Sonny Bill Williams

Cross-code star Williams is poised to be recalled for the third Test against France on Saturday in a swift recuperation which has foiled a planned a holiday with his family.

Keyhole surgery on a knee problem three weeks ago was meant to require six weeks' recovery but the 32-year-old is instead in line for a 47th cap and just his second Test appearance at the Forsyth Barr Stadium indoor venue.

The first came last August when Williams' spilled a handful of early passes and helped open the door for Australia before the hosts charged home to retain the Bledisloe Cup.

Williams aggravated an old knee injury this week and Blues medical staff said an x-ray yesterday showed a loose piece of bone in his knee joint.

He will undergo keyhole surgery later today in Auckland.

Blues medical staff expect that the second five-eighth will be unable to train for approximately four weeks.

The 32-year-old was due to assemble with the All Blacks squad next week to prepare for the first test against France - an update of his involvement from All Blacks management will be given on Monday.

The twice World Cup winner posted a photograph on his Twitter page with his left forearm and hand encased in a plaster cast.

The Blues say Williams would be out for between six and eight weeks.

The 32-year-old could return in time for the clash against the defending champion Canterbury Crusaders on May 19, two weeks before the All Blacks play their first match in their three-test series against France in Auckland.

The Blues, who have a bye this week, play South Africa's Sharks next Saturday at Eden Park.

The 32-year-old Williams' playing future has been the subject of intense speculation virtually every year since he walked out on a five-year contract with rugby league's Canterbury Bulldogs in 2008 to play union in France.

Williams was forced into clarifying his future after a former Sydney Roosters player told an Australian radio station at the weekend that he would join the club in August after the Auckland Blues' season ended.

"I love being a part of the Blues Rugby team & All Blacks," Williams wrote on his Twitter account on Monday.

The Blues second-five is rumoured to be returning to the NRL with the Roosters at the end of the Super Rugby season.

Former Roosters player Jimmy Smith made the comments on Australian radio.

"The mail is good," Smith told the Big Sports Weekend radio programme on Sydney radio station 2KY.

"From what I understand, the deal is done. It will be a short stint at the end of the Super Rugby season."

Smith told the Big Sports Weekend on Sunday that the backrower will be back in Bondi before the finals with the Super Rugby final set for August 4.

"I feel he'll stay in rugby," Mundine, a former NRL player turned professional boxer, said.

"As great as rugby league is, rugby is the world game. Lots of countries play it all over Europe and South Africa, it's massive. I went to South Africa to watch him play a [Super Rugby] game and they had fans waiting outside the hotel room. It's a big thing. It's the biggest sport over there. It's crazy."

The experienced 44-test midfielder spoke for the first time following the Stade de France encounter, won 38-18 by the All Blacks, in Edinburgh on Thursday evening after the team naming for Saturday's (Sunday NZ time) clash against Scotland.

Williams took his brain-explosion play on the chin, after being yellow-carded and also conceding a penalty try when he batted away a French cross-kick in-goal, instead of attempting to catch the ball.

The play he made is standard in his former sport of rugby league, but not allowed in rugby.

Under-fire All Black Sonny Bill Williams has received some welcome backing after his Stade de France brain fade.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has gone in to bat for his embattled second five-eighth after he was widely lambasted for his knucklehead play early in the second half against France that saw him sinbinned, coughed up a penalty try and was the catalyst for the French to roar back from 31-5 to 31-18.

Despite making 23 tackles in the All Blacks' 25-24 win over the Springboks in Cape Town on October 8, Williams has been blitzed by some critics who believe he has lost the ability to tickle-up opponents with the attacking skills that made him such a unique force at second five-eighth.

When All Blacks coach Hansen, having arrived in Brisbane on Monday night to prepare his team for the match against the Wallabies this weekend, was asked to provide an assessment of Williams' form he let rip.

The fight has the potential to earn Gallen big dollars — some say in excess of $A500,000 (NZ$557,000) — but after striking a deal to fight SBW, it looks like falling over because of a dispute with broadcasters. But Gallen smells a rat. He is of the belief that SBW is dodging him.

"I think the issue here is that Sonny is worried about me," Gallen said. "I've watched him very closely this year and he is looking a bit fragile.

"He's had a couple of head knocks and I think they are worried about what will happen when I get hold of him.