Sonny Bill Williams has demonstrated some of his old form in England. Picture / Brett Phibbs
Sonny Bill Williams has demonstrated some of his old form in England. Picture / Brett Phibbs
Two games in and second-five has his confidence back.
Short on self-belief and plagued by negative thoughts about his degenerating knee, Sonny Bill Williams didn't inspire much confidence about how he might fare at this World Cup.
Two games in and this tournament has his name written all over it.
He could hardly have been more impressive and, frombeing the man who looked a bit lucky to be on the plane, he's now the focal point of everything good the All Blacks have done in England.
Argentina felt the full force of his direct running in a half-hour cameo that saw him grab the opening test, stuff it in his pocket and make it clear that the All Blacks weren't going to give it back.
Namibia caught him in a similar mood where his party trick was his favourite - his miracle offloading. The flip to Malakai Fekitoa under the posts was the sort of pass that no defence on earth can defend and it's what makes Williams Williams.
Project into the knockout rounds and imagine a similar pass - it could make all the difference. World Cups always throw up heroes - expected and unexpected.
They can be the making of some players - the big stage that they have been waiting for. It feels like Williams fits that bill.
Without much form or confidence behind him, the hope was that he'd come good at the World Cup.
And he has. Really good, and by some distance he's been the All Blacks' best player so far.
He reckons his turnaround is a case of getting his head right: of no longer stressing about his knee but instead thinking about nothing other than carrying strongly and using his power.
Image 1 of 7: Nehe Milner-Skudder dives over to score the All Blacks' second try. Photo / Brett Phibbs
"I think I am a lot more clear in what I need to do," he says. "I am feeling confident in what I can achieve out on the field. There is competition for places and it is an awesome feeling because you have got to perform, and not just out on the field but at training as well. Anyone who gets to wear that jersey, they are going to have to peak."
Against all expectation, Williams appears to be peaking. He's timed this about perfectly and the All Blacks now have a joker with potentially another in Waisake Naholo.
It's given them an element of unpredictability and danger that they needed. Williams is a different player, different beast to Ma'a Nonu.
They share a similar level of power and impact but use their assets differently. The All Blacks looked a better team in the last half hour against Argentina and much of that was due to the arrival of Williams.
He gave them direction, energy, urgency, a touch of genius in the middle of the park.
Ma'a Nonu has been that man for the All Blacks for so long that it is inconceivable there could be a changing of the guard at this late hour.
Yet, just as clearly, Williams needs to be given game time at this tournament to continue what he has started.
The more he plays, the better he'll get and when he's hot, why not keep him out there?
When he's in this dynamic form, hungry to get his hands on the ball and using his offloads so judiciously and expertly, the All Blacks need him on the park.
Williams is in a great head space. "It just comes from looking and de-cluttering your mind I guess," he says.
A selection dilemma of sorts is brewing for coach Steve Hansen. Nonu has been such a great All Black; such an invaluable part of the team for nearly a decade now, that it feels wrong to even think about not starting with him.
But Williams is on a roll, he's playing such compelling football that 30 minutes off the bench doesn't feel quite enough.
As Hansen himself said of Williams: "I don't think [having too much clutter in his head] that was the issue in Sydney, to be honest. It was more about his knee and a bit of anxiety about that.
"He's done some good work with various people to be in a good place about his knee and when he's like that he's a pretty freak beast and it could be an exciting tournament."
