All Blacks: SBW set for recall

Sonny Bill Williams is set to start against Wales on Sunday. Photo / Getty Images

Sonny Bill Williams appears poised to end his All Blacks Grand Slam tour as it began - in the starting line-up as Graham Henry continues to puzzle over his optimum midfield pairing for next year's World Cup.

Williams, one of the highest profile All Blacks on tour despite only making his debut in the opening test against England at Twickenham less than three weeks ago, is likely to reunite with established centre Conrad Smith when the All Blacks end their season against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday (6.15am NZT).

Ma'a Nonu, the first choice second five-eighth until league convert Williams returned from French rugby in June with World Cup ambitions, looks likely to be the major casualty from last weekend's 38-18 victory over Ireland in Dublin.

His Wellington and Hurricanes teammate Cory Jane could also find himself on the outer when the All Blacks attempt to secure a fourth Grand Slam - and third under the Henry regime.

Isaia Toeava made way when Jane returned from injury to play the Irish but might be restored to the right flank he occupied against Scotland - and for part of the England test after the fading Joe Rokocoko succumbed to a knee injury.

There is likely to be one predictable change to the backline at halfback - one of the few positions Henry has rotated during a five-test assignment that started in Hong Kong against the Wallabies on October 30.

Alby Mathewson was chosen to start against England, Andy Ellis then auditioned for the role as third halfback in the World Cup squad in Dublin -- now Jimmy Cowan is expected to finish the tour with his No 1 ranking confirmed by a 44th cap.

There was one notable onlooker when the All Blacks crossed the border and trained at the University of Bath yesterday - Daniel Carter took no part in a condensed session as the ankle which required surgery late in the Tri-Nations campaign is monitored.

Medical staff said Carter - just two points short of Jonny Wilkinson's current test record haul of 1178 - was only spectating as a precaution and would be available to overtake the Englishman's landmark against the nation he debuted against in 2003.

Brad Thorn also made his All Black debut that night in Hamilton -- and will surely clock up the 50th test of a fabled footballing career as a dual international.

The hamstring strain which prevented him reaching the milestone in Dublin is no longer an issue while in another scripted alteration veteran hooker Keven Mealamu is primed to return from a two-week suspension in place of two-test rookie Hika Elliot.

The Hawke's Bay rake is also likely to be denied a place on the bench as Andrew Hore - the All Blacks starting hooker in 2009 - is also due to bring up his half century of test caps, eight years after his debut.

Thorn's return to the second row should see Anthony Boric revert to his usual bench role while Sam Whitelock appears the logical replacement for Tom Donnelly, who suffered a tour-ending knee injury late in the first half against the Irish.

The selection of a strong team would be no surprise despite Wales wretched run of just two wins and a draw in their last 12 tests.

A 16-all stalemate with Fiji last weekend was the lowest point of a sequence that includes two losses in New Zealand in June but the All Blacks were still complimentary.

"You saw last week the Irish were a different team to how they played against Samoa," captain Richie McCaw said.

"The Welsh will be exactly the same."

Assistant coach Wayne Smith agreed: "You can be certain how Wales are going to come out, they're getting it in the neck from everyone at the moment.

"They're going to be a bit like Ireland, hugely passionate."

Smith said after 13 tests in five months the challenge facing management this week was prepping the squad up for one last 80-minute shift.

"We've got to freshen up. We have to create the mindset that we're fast and ready to go," he said, adding signs of fatigue were evident against Ireland.

"I don't think we were as sharp on our feet as we have been."

There was no suggestion those feet were subconsciously already on the plane at Heathrow, however.

"We've got every chance to make this tour memorable so there'll be no element of that."

- NZPA