All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams appears ready for selection ahead of this weekend’s clash with the Springboks according to assistant coach Ian Foster.
Williams has been reduced to very little game time this season following a succession of injuries the latest of which, a hamstring injury picked up in training two weeks ago, left him out of the team’s 20-16 win over Argentina.
However, Foster believes that the 51-cap All Black has overcome his injury and depending on how he does in training over the next couple of days will decide if he is chosen to play.
“He’s travelled well, trained fully today, so again it’s a matter of making sure he’s come through that with no ill effects tomorrow [Wednesday] and Thursday morning, and see what unfolds,” he said.
Foster admitted that Williams is anxious about returning to action following his recent injury woes and with the World Cup just around the corner.
“He’s a bit nervous. He wants to know what’s happening and he’s like every other player now. There’s that apprehension and excitement, but at the end of the day we’ve got to get him focused on learning and doing what he needs to do then we’ll make the selections that we see as right,” he added.
The assistant coach made a point of noting that although the 33-year-old may be fully fit his place in the team this weekend is not certain as he might once again be rested for the future.
“There’s no doubt at this stage you end up balancing at selection the need for us to give people opportunity to make final decisions for World Cup, versus the need for us to be growing our game, versus the need to win a test that’s pretty special to us. It’s a bit of a tightrope you walk. We just need to make sure when we put a player out there it’s the right thing for them and also that they’re at the right place to help advance our game,” he finished.
With Williams being side-lined for the clash with the Pumas last Saturday and Jack Goodhue being one of the eight Crusaders to be rested, Ngani Laumape and Anton Lienert-Brown started in the centre and put in a perfect showing.
However, with Williams and Goodhue both set to be back this week head coach Steve Hansen will have a full compliment of midfielders to choose from.
The only missing star centre is Ryan Crotty but after fracturing his thumb he was ruled out of the entire Rugby Championship campaign before it even began. All of which means that Williams will have a chance to gain some much-needed game-time and put his hand up for a place in Hansen’s 31-man World Cup squad that will head to Japan in September.
