Sick Williams pulled out ahead of clash

Wellington – Sonny Bill Williams’s much anticipated return to Test rugby was put on hold by tonsillitis on Thursday when the centre was ruled out of the All Blacks squad to face South Africa.

The All Blacks said Williams would start on the bench in today’s Rugby Championship fixture, but he was scratched from the squad just a few hours later.

Coach Steve Hansen said Williams had been sick all week and while the plan was to play 20 minutes late in the game, there was risk he may have had to come on early as an injury replacement.

“He’s too valuable to do that to. We’ve got a good replacement in Jack (Goodhue) so in the end it was a no-brainer,” said Hansen.

Williams, 33, missed the first two Tests against France last June, following knee surgery. He played 58 minutes of the third Test before injuring his shoulder, and has been out of action since.

The two-time World Cup-winner’s on-again, off-again return comes as Hansen announced wholesale changes.

There are 10 changes to the run-on side and five on the bench in a strong All Blacks combination looking to extend their unbeaten record in the fourth-round Rugby Championship match.

Ryan Crotty, Sam Cane and Rieko Ioane all made the starting line-up after missing last week’s Test against Argentina because of injury.

“We know we’ll have to be at our very best,” Hansen said, noting that South Africa “will be desperate” following back-to-back losses to Argentina and Australia.

He opted for Crotty to start in the No 12 jersey, with the centre confirming he was suffering no long-term effects from his sixth concussion in 15 months when knocked out playing Australia early in the series. –