Sonny Bill inspired by former team-mate Wilkinson

New Zealand’s new “superman” Sonny Bill Williams revealed today how Jonny Wilkinson inspired his remarkable rise from rookie centre to All Blacks international.

The former Kiwi rugby league star will make his Test debut against England on Saturday after coach Graham Henry made four changes from last weekend’s 26-24 defeat to Australia.

Williams comes in for Conrad Smith while Hosea Gear, who scored a hat-trick in the New Zealand Maori’s 35-28 victory over England in June, replaces the injured Cory Jane on the wing.

Alby Mathewson will make his starting debut at scrum-half in place of Jimmy Cowan while Samuel Whitelock takes over from Tom Donnelly in the second row.

Williams switched codes in 2008 when he signed for Toulon but for over a year he was plagued by injury and constant doubts about his ability.

It was only when Wilkinson signed for Toulon the following summer that Williams slowly began to realise his full potential in the game.

“When I first went to Toulon I was injured a lot and I didn’t know if I could cut it. I had a lot of self-doubts,” said Williams.

“Fortunately, Tana Umaga (then Toulon coach) had the foresight that I could play rugby even before I did and playing with Jonny last year gave me a lot of confidence.

“I used to speak to Jonny about how much it meant to him to play for his country and how much he got out of it. On top of that was the driving factor of trying to prove myself in rugby.

“To play alongside some greats in Jonny, Tana Umaga, Felipe Contepomi, Joe Van Niekerk really helped my game because I knew those guys had reached the top.

“After that I felt I could mix it with the best. That is why I wanted to go back and have a crack at the All Blacks. To prove to people and to myself that I could play.

“The biggest thing for me is pulling on that black jersey. A couple of years ago it seemed so far away.”

Williams had been on the All Blacks radar virtually from the moment he controversially walked out on his contract with NRL club Canterbury Bulldogs and moved to France.

But even this time last year, Williams was uncertain about whether he had it in him to push for that All Blacks jersey.

“I rang him when we played France last year and he said: ’I’d like to play for the All Blacks but I will only come back to New Zealand if I think I’m good enough’,” recalled Henry.

“It only really became a talking point at the end of Toulon’s season and he really thought he could be competitive.”

Flush with new-found confidence, the 25-year-old part-time boxer returned to New Zealand at the end of the Top 14 season and he made an immediate impact on the domestic ITM Cup for Canterbury.

Williams will start alongside Ma’a Nonu in a heavyweight midfield and Mark Cueto admitted England are not quite sure how to stop a 17 stone powerhouse with sublime handling skills.

“We’ve got a load of computer footage to analyse all their players. When you click on Sonny Bill it looks like Superman, it’s absolutely ridiculous,” he said.

Williams admits that three years ago he would have laughed at anyone who suggested he would be part of the All Blacks squad less than a year out from the World Cup in New Zealand.

“It is a massive opportunity. That is why I am so thankful I have got my foot in the door now,” said Williams.

“I had a coffee with Jonny yesterday and he said you can’t get complacent. As soon as you start thinking you are in that team or in the 30-man squad every time it is going to get picked, that is when you tend to let your foot off the pedal. It is a lot of hard work.

“People see the glitz and glamour on the field but there is a lot of hard work that goes into it. That is why I am so proud to say I will be an All Black this weekend.”

England will be having nightmares about the tries Gear scored against them in Napier during the summer, when he was not even part of the All Blacks squad.

“There has been a huge amount of pressure from the New Zealand media and public for him to be in the All Blacks,” said Henry.

“Even my mother asked me why he was not in the All Blacks. I saw the Maori play the English at Hawkes Bay and ’Hosea, Hosea, Hosea’ was whipping through the stands so I bent to the pressure!”