Sonny Bill Williams

Heat goes on SBW

Bumbling Sonny Bill Williams and brilliant Beauden Barrett grabbed the focus from an "extraordinary" Bledisloe Cup test as British media continue to put the microscope on the All Blacks.

The northern interest in the performance of Steve Hansen's side as only intensified in the wake of their drawn series with the British and Irish Lions.

And the British press couldn't have found a more contradiction to the tight tussle with the Lions than the 10-try extravaganza in Dunedin where the All Blacks sealed their comeback win two minutes from the finish with Barrett scoring.

All Blacks cleared over Sonny Bill

Williams took a blow to the head when making a tackle early in the All Blacks' 54-34 win over the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday.

The 32-year-old appeared to be struggling after sustaining another couple of big impacts, but did not undergo the HIA protocols.

SANZAAR reviewed the incident and concluded that there had been no "deliberate failure" on the part of the world champions in the way they handled the situation.

SBW's Bombay outing

From Bombay to the Bledisloe Cup, it is hardly the ideal preparation to take on the Wallabies. 

But, after finally returning to the field, Sonny Bill Williams is hopeful it will be enough to see him get the nod for the All Blacks in Sydney next weekend.

The cross-code superstar made the first real on-field step to putting the past six weeks behind him with a 65-minute hit-out in a Counties B inter-squad match on Saturday.

A few hundred locals braved heavy rain at the Bombay Rugby Club near Pukekohe and 'SBW' did not disappoint.

Williams cleared to face Australia

The All Blacks centre was suspended for a dangerous tackle on Anthony Watson during the second Test against the British and Irish Lions last month.

World Rugby initially ruled that the dual-code powerhouse would not be available to face the Wallabies in Sydney on August 19, as that would serve as the last installment of his ban.

New Zealand Rugby argued that the world champions' match of two halves against Taranaki and Counties Manukau should count as one of the four "meaningful matches" he must miss.

The governing body has now ruled in favour of Williams.

No outcome on SBW appeal

Williams was appealing the four-match ban from the Lions series that rules him out of the first Bledisloe Cup clash against the Wallabies.

The All Blacks centre was handed the suspension for his second Test send-off against the British & Irish Lions earlier this month.

Williams became the first All Black in 50 years to be sent off in a Test when he was red-carded for a shoulder charge on Lions winger Anthony Watson early in the 24-21 loss in Wellington.

He missed the drawn third Test with the Lions, and the Blues' final Super Rugby match against the Sunwolves.

SBW, Gallen agree fight terms

The terms have been agreed between Williams' promoter, Khoder Nasser, and Gallen's people. They just need to work out where the fight will be shown in Australia.

Nasser has a meeting scheduled with Stan chief executive Mike Sneesby. Stan is an Australian streaming company launched in 2015 and is a joint venture ofNine Entertainment Co and Fairfax Media.

Williams appeals suspension for his red card

Williams was suspended for four weeks for a shoulder charge on Lions wing Anthony Watson - it was hoped he would be able to serve the ban before the Rugby Championship.

Yesterday World Rugby confirmed the suspension would run until August 19th, the day of the first Test against Australia in Sydney.

In a statement New Zealand Rugby said Sonny Bill Williams has appealed the World Rugby Judicial Committee's decision not to include the All Blacks match on 11 August in the four-week suspension.

Williams to miss start of Rugby Championship

Williams was suspended for four weeks for a charge on Lions wing Anthony Watson - it was hoped he would be able to serve the ban before the Rugby Championship.

RNZI reports World Rugby has confirmed the suspension is for four matches.

Since a hearing on July 2nd, World Rugby says the disciplinary committee had been receiving and reviewing additional submissions and evidence from the player's side relating to his upcoming schedule of matches.

How SBW gets back for Bledisloe

Williams has already missed two matches owing to the ban, the deciding Lions test and the Blues' Super Rugby loss to the Sunwolves in Tokyo last weekend.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen told Radio Sport on Thursday that Williams will miss a Counties Manukau pre-season game and potentially a club match to serve out the ban handed down for the red card offence.

Hansen said the club game was a bit contentious over whether it qualified for the ban.

Four-week ban for Sonny Bill Williams

The cross-code star was sent off with just 25 minutes on the clock during Saturday's match, after catching Lions wing Anthony Watson flush on the head with a shoulder charge.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen confirmed Williams would plead guilty to a charge of unnecessary contact with the head when he faced a hearing at the New Zealand Rugby offices in Wellington on Sunday.

That hearing resulted in a four-week suspension being imposed on the centre, whose place in the All Blacks' squad for next weekend's decisive third Test has been taken by Malakai Fekitoa.