All Blacks: Tough night for SBW shows Nonu's importance

Sonny Bill Williams of the All Blacks looks dejected after a Wallabies try during The Rugby Championship match between the Wallabies and the All Blacks. Photo / Getty Images.

One All Black who enhanced his reputation during the shock loss to the Wallabies in Sydney wasn't even involved in the test.

Ma'a Nonu, nursing an injured shoulder and watching from afar, saw his stocks rise in direct proportion to the struggles of his replacement Sonny Bill Williams.

Listen back to Radio Sport's Nigel Yalden, Rikki Swannell and Tawera Kerr-Barlow with the highlights of their call of the match.

Not for the first time, Williams, whom coach Steve Hansen said was hampered by an early blow to a gluteus muscle, failed to cope with the rushing defence of a committed and well-organised opposition. There was no time for him to wind up those long limbs and put doubt in the minds of his defenders.

Instead, there was a green and gold welcoming committee every time he touched the ball. And when he was given time he was caught in two minds - twice he chose to kick and did so poorly, when a better option was to hold on to the ball.

It was reminiscent of the problems Williams faced in the All Blacks' last test of 2014 - the 34-16 victory over Wales in Cardiff, a match which Hansen's men only controlled in the final 10 minutes once Beauden Barrett went from first-five to fullback and scored two of his team's three tries at the death.

Williams, who started in the No12 jersey and was replaced with 10 minutes remaining by Ryan Crotty, made several uncharacteristic mistakes after being caught time again by the rushing Welsh defence. No player likes having defenders in their face, but some are better at dealing with it than others. Nonu, who has a far more cultured kicking game than Williams, isn't the master of the offload like his taller teammate, but he can be relied on to make the gain line even when pressed for time and space.

This isn't to say that Williams' place in the World Cup squad is in doubt. He played well in Christchurch against Argentina and offers an X-factor in terms of his offloading ability that few other players in the world possess. But it does raise a few more questions. For a World Cup knockout match, Nonu and Conrad Smith select themselves as midfielders, if fit.

Would the selectors pick Williams on the reserves bench? Or would they go for Malakai Fekitoa (alongside a halfback and first-five/fullback - probably TJ Perenara and Barrett, respectively), who appears to have more impact value? The Highlander, who scored the crucial try to help beat the Aussies in Brisbane last year, would be my choice for his power game, consistency, and ability to stress a tiring defence.

Curiously enough, they are all qualities Nonu has in abundance. His rehabilitation from the knock suffered against the Springboks in Johannesburg is looming as key for the All Blacks' World Cup hopes.