Williams: I felt like an All Black ‘extra’

NEW ZEALAND centre Sonny Bill Williams will be one of the main box-office attractions when the tourists face Wales today, but admits he felt like an “extra” when he first joined up with the All Blacks.

The 25-year-old former New Zealand rugby league cap made the switch to rugby union with ambitious French outfit Toulon in 2008, before taking a sizeable pay cut to move to Canterbury and fulfil his dream of becoming an All Black.

He earned his first international call-up for of the current Grand Slam tour and has proven to be one of the stars of the trip, with his off-loading ability allowing the tourists to unlock defences almost at will.