All Blacks: SBW start looking likely

Sonny Bill Williams trains in London. Photo / Getty Images

Sonny Bill Williams is on the brink of achieving double international status at Twickenham unless subterfuge was at play or the All Blacks' first hit-out since Hong Kong was simply an innocent extension of his on-the-job training.

When the All Blacks returned to a practice ground today for the first time since arriving in London for their Grand Slam opener against England on Sunday (NZT), Williams stood out in what appeared to be the shadow test backline.

He spent to the vast majority of a willing two-hour session running at centre in between Ma'a Nonu and Joe Rokocoko, two automatic inclusions for the first leg of the All Blacks' third attempt on a Grand Slam in five years.

Although Williams has been employed at second five-eighth for the majority of his seven-match provincial career with Canterbury, All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith indicated the selectors felt the 25-year-old could be equally adept at covering both midfield roles.

Smith said Williams would be given an opportunity to play in both positions on the tour but was coy yesterday on when that may eventuate.

Williams confessed the fourth and final Bledisloe Cup test last weekend would have been beyond him, it was anticipated the Scotland test at Murrayfield on November 14 (NZT) would be used to introduce the former Kiwis international to test rugby.

However, after consultations between Graham Henry and Smith, his backline coordinator, it seems conceivable Williams could be incorporated against an English backline that poses neither the pace nor panache of its Australian counterpart.

Williams's familiarity with England's playing style and personnel - gleaned during two seasons under the guidance of Jonny Wilkinson at Toulon -- has possibly encouraged All Black management to blood Williams in relatively comfortable surroundings.

Conrad Smith, of course, could always be placed on the bench as insurance if the experiment goes awry.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was also reluctant to speculate on when Williams would become the first Kiwis international to represent the All Blacks - in that order - since Karl Ifwersen played the third test against the Springboks in 1921, a year after ending his 10-test league career.

"He's had another week with us, he's fitted in really well," McCaw said of Williams' development.

"He's eager like a lot of others to out on the track. When he gets his chance I'm sure he'll go well."

Smith said wholesale changes were not expected in the aftermath of the All Blacks last-minute 24-26 loss to the Wallabies on Saturday, though modifications are inevitable.

Hosea Gear is set to replace the injured Cory Jane on the right wing for his third cap - there might also be good news for his Wellington teammate Alby Mathewson when the 22-man squad is announced on Thursday (NZT).

Lock Sam Whitelock, a substitute in each of his nine tests so far, could also feature in the starting lineup.

Martin Johnston ended conjecture over the composition of his team for the first of England's four autumn internationals when announcing only one alteration from the side who pipped the Wallabies 21-20 at Sydney in June.

Giant 123kg loosehead prop Andrew Sheridan returns to international duty for the first time since the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2009. Later that year he dislocated a shoulder when a scrum collapsed while playing for Sale, an injury that required a four-hour operation and lengthy rehabilitation.

There had been speculation about Rotorua-born hooker Dylan Hartley -- who missed the shared series with the Wallabies through injury -- ousting Steve Thompson but Johnson has kept faith with an aging member of his 2003 World Cup-winning squad.

Instead it is former New Zealand Warrior Shontayne Hape that provides the latest the Kiwis connection between England and the All Black starting lineups.

Two years after former Wellington and Hurricanes representative Riki Flutley played second five-eighth against the All Blacks at Twickenham, the 29-year-old, 14-test Kiwi now assumes that position.

Hape, who switched codes - and allegiance - after six season with the BRadford Bulls in 2008, debuted against the Wallabies five months ago and could yet confront Williams, a teammate on the Kiwis' 2004 tour of the UK.

Johnston named two uncapped players on the bench - Gloucester lock David Attwood and South African-born Leeds flanker Hendre Fourie.

Back-up pivot Charlie Hodgson returns to an England test squad for the first time since the 2008 tour of New Zealand.

- NZPA