Rugby: All Blacks to benefit from new and improved Sonny Bill Williams

Sonny Bill Williams celebrates during the Blues' win over the Lions last night. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Sonny Bill Williams, one of the Blues' heroes in their historic victory over the British and Irish Lions at Eden Park, is lighter, fitter, stronger and faster this year.

He is also, following his time away from the game with an Achilles injury suffered at the Rio Olympics last August which kept him off the field for more than six months, more able to see the bigger picture.

He is content with life while also being extremely hungry for success, and that could prove to be a devastating combination for the All Blacks in their upcoming test series against Warren Gatland's men. He is, as they say, in a good space, and that will filter across to his teammates.

The significance of the Blues match for him could be seen in his absolute joy at scoring just before halftime, and in the way he wanted the ball in his hands in the final minutes when his side were trailing by a point and looking in danger of throwing away their big chance.

But the happiness Williams felt at providing the offload for Ihaia West's try, and at the final whistle of his side's 22-16 victory, and long afterwards, when most of the 40,000 crowd had left and he was still on the field soaking it all in with young daughter Imaan in his arms, wasn't only for himself.

It was for Stephen Perofeta, too, a 19-year-old No10 who had just started his first match for the Blues, and for coach Tana Umaga, a former All Blacks midfielder himself and with whom Williams has become close.

"Last night before the game I looked at [wing] Rieko [Ioane] and he said, 'bro, are you nervous?', and I said 'bro, I'm more nervous that you. This is the sh*t that we love, you know?'.

"And that's true. When you have the privilege of being able to step away from the game for a year it makes you realise that yes, it is a game, and happiness and contentment shouldn't come down to how you play...

"After the game, getting the feelings and emotions, that's why you play. You don't play the game to get your name in the paper the next day. You play for those emotions and when you realise that, that's when you enjoy the game a bit more."

It goes without saying then that Williams is enjoying the game at the moment. There have been a few bumps in the road; the media spotlight over his refusal to promote a bank on the Blues' jersey on his comeback, a concussion, and a knee injury, but there are few in the game more single-minded on success than Williams.

That's not to say it's been easy, though. "It's been tough," he said. "I was so focused on getting stronger and faster that when I finally got back on the field I wasn't expecting to have the speed bumps that I've had.

"In saying that, I've always had faith in my ability, I just needed a bit of game time. Last night I felt really comfortable and I'm starting to show signs that I'm getting to where I want to be.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is almost certain to start Williams in the first test at Eden Park on June 24. Gatland will be aware of that and more aware now too of the damage that Williams can do, but it's one thing knowing about it, another entirely stopping it.

The weight loss for a man with a fat percentage already below five per cent - a very small amount - has caused challenges, but he feels it's necessary for him to improve.

A slightly different training regime, less protein, and smaller, more regular, meals have helped. As has regular contact with the All Blacks' nutritionist and trainers.

"I've lost a little bit of weight since 2015 and I'm probably a bit stronger and a bit faster," Williams said. "That's what they're saying in terms of the numbers. I'm probably a bit more nimble and I just need more games to get that game sense back."

Lions look out.