Sonny Bill's All Black plans facing tiny hiccup

Sonny Bill Williams' wife, Alana, is reportedly due to give birth around the middle of November.

The All Blacks' midfield crisis could deepen during their end-of-year tour to the US and Britain if Sonny Bill Williams is forced to cut his trip short due to the birth of his first child.

Williams' wife, Alana, is reportedly due around the middle of November, when he will be away from Australia on tour with the All Blacks. The All Blacks are scheduled to play Scotland on the 15th and Wales on the 22nd.

A recent report from Sydney states Williams, playing for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League, has already cleared a dash home with All Blacks management.

With regular second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken arm, Williams' presence on tour is even more vital to the All Blacks' cause.

New Zealand has several midfield options in Nonu's absence, including Malakai Fekitoa and Ryan Crotty, who played in Nonu's place in the All Blacks' 51-20 win over Australia last month, but Williams would presumably be the first-choice partner for veteran centre Conrad Smith.

A spokeswoman for New Zealand Rugby was unable to say whether Williams had discussed with All Blacks management the possibility of making a quick trip home to Sydney.

Williams' manager, Khoder Nasser, was unwilling to discuss the issue and made it clear that his client was prepared to do all he could to fit in with the All Blacks' plans and tour schedule.

"Sonny is willing to make himself available straight away, as soon as his rugby league commitments are finished. His whole aspirations are in one direction," Nasser said.

"He's made it clear that he's available and willing to do everything he can to make the All Blacks squad and make the World Cup team."

Williams is currently focused on helping the Roosters to back-to-back NRL premierships and will play in tomorrow night's preliminary final against the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Sydney's ANZ Stadium.

Should the Roosters prevail, they will then line up in the grand final on October 5.

Once his NRL club commitments have finished, Williams will head to New Zealand to begin the next chapter in his rugby career and turn his attention towards the All Blacks' four-game tour of the US and Britain.

Tour schedule
All Blacks' end-of-year trip to United States and Britain
• November 1 v USA in Chicago
• November 8 v England at Twickenham
• November 15 v Scotland at Murrayfield
• November 22 v Wales at Millennium Stadium.