Debut at Twickenham

Sonny Bill Williams makes his All Black debut against England at Twickenham on November 7 replacing Conrad Smith in the No 13 shirt. The 25-year-old former league international returned to New Zealand in the summer and only made his first appearance for Canterbury in September. Yet, All Black’s coach Graham Henry has evidently seen enough to convince him Williams is ready. The uncapped All Black has great expectation about his potential. He was an iconic figure in the 13-man game and his progress in union has been followed with feverish excitement by the New Zealand public. Williams says: “I’ve never experienced anything like this before. I’m the new boy on the block and I’ve got no runs on the board yet so I’ll just do my best.”