All Blacks: Cometh the hour, cometh SBW

Timing is everything and no one has the art of being in the right place at the right time off pat more than Sonny Bill Williams.

From being a possible in the All Black squad to tour the US and Europe in November, he is now a must. The All Blacks need him as Ma'a Nonu is out for the rest of the year after breaking his arm.

Ryan Crotty is an improving option at No 12 - a solid performer who will cart the ball into all the unglamorous alleys and throw himself in front of big, fast-moving opponents.

He'll be the go-to man against Argentina, South Africa and Australia and All Black coach Steve Hansen will not be too upset about that.

Crotty is exactly the sort of player who could be thrust into action suddenly and dramatically at next year's World Cup.

As Stephen Donald proved last time round, it's the men on the periphery who often become the heroes and to have Crotty able to seamlessly jump into the All Black midfield next year will be gold.

But Crotty is the insurance. A great option to have if catastrophe strikes. He'll bridge the gap between now and Williams being available - which won't be before the test against the US on November 1.

Even if the Roosters are knocked out this week, Williams won't be in the selection frame until the All Blacks play in Chicago.

Being the freakish athlete he is, he could probably play an NRL knock-out game one week and the Wallabies the next.

It isn't going to happen, though, because it would feel wrong on two fronts.

First, it would be unfair on Crotty and other contenders who have been unfailingly loyal. And secondly it would feel awkward to have him returned to the test team so quickly.

All Hansen would say on Nonu was: "It's disappointing for him and for us but again it creates an opportunity for someone like Ryan Crotty once he's cleared to play and for Malakai [Fekitoa] for that matter."

And does it open up a place for Williams? "Oh yeah, probably does ..."