Rugby: Tew: We'll know about Sonny Bill this week

Sonny Bill Williams. Photo / Getty Images

As the All Blacks edge towards their opening test in New Plymouth, their antennae will also be tuned into information leaking out of Australia.

The All Black side to play Ireland will be revealed tomorrow but there is a chance that announcement will battle for primetime coverage with revelations about Sonny Bill Williams and his rugby future.

Williams has been courted hard by the New Zealand Rugby Union while his Toulon club has offered him a huge deal to sign on again back in France.

Several months ago, the NZRU had little chance of signing Williams, but their renewed efforts and help from departing Toulon coach Tana Umaga helped peak Williams' interest in trying his rugby fortune in New Zealand.

"We are encouraged by what we are hearing on the rumour mill," NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said yesterday. "We are expecting to hear an answer this week from Sonny Bill's manager. We have to remain positive and we are comfortable with what we have put in front of him."

The All Blacks relocated from Auckland to New Plymouth yesterday while Ireland were due to touch down about midnight after their lengthy flight to the City of Sails.

The tourists had to leave centre Fergus McFadden behind after he broke his jaw in their 23-29 loss on Friday to the Barbarians while Shane Horgan and Jerry Flannery may join the squad later after further inspection of their injuries.

All Black coach Graham Henry dismissed the result, saying Ireland would have been concentrating more on their journey Downunder.

"I had a look at the Irish through the Six Nations and they looked good, they have a lot of experience," he noted.

Five-eighths Jonathan Sexton was travelling with the squad although there have been doubts about his health as he recovered from surgery to repair a fractured jaw.

Ireland's injury toll was already high with seasoned internationals Paul O'Connell, Rory Best, Stephen Ferris, Denis Leamy, Kevin McLaughlin, Keith Earls and Luke Fitzgerald all missing the trip.

The All Blacks' second opponent, Wales, also lost when they were beaten by a mix-and-match Springbok side 34-31 in Cardiff.

Coach Warren Gatland applauded his side's start but then cursed his team's lack of concentration. "We gave them the game on a plate, we were not clinical enough," he said.

The Wallabies beat Fiji, but have lost prop Ben Alexander for six weeks with a knee ligament injury while Adam Ashley-Cooper will miss a fortnight's action with an ankle problem.

Fijian midfielder Rupeni Caucaunibuca was attempting to persuade the Brumbies he was worth contracting for next year's Super 15 but the former Blues and current Agen player looked well out of condition.

Meanwhile, the All Blacks will continue to monitor the ankle injury which has eliminated Tom Donnelly from any action in the past two months. Mils Muliaina and Richard Kahui may get a clearance to play club rugby in the Waikato this weekend.

Rene Ranger and Ben Smith stay with the squad until tomorrow when they are likely to be released to train with the Barbarians for Saturday's game with NZ Maori in Whangarei.