All Blacks and Blues centre Sonny Bill Williams has suffered yet another injury blow after being ruled out of the upcoming three-Test series against France.
The dual RWC winning centre aggravated an old injury this week and Blues medical staff said an X-ray on Thursday showed a loose piece of bone in his knee joint ruling him out for several weeks.
He will undergo keyhole surgery in Auckland.
GRATEFUL ❤️🤲🏽 pic.twitter.com/y8K8zvCFAt
— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) June 1, 2018
Blues medical staff expect that Williams will be unable to train for around four weeks and he has withdrawn from the team for Saturday’s Super Rugby encounter with the Melbourne Rebels in Auckland.
Replacement Terrence Hepetema will now start in the midfield alongside Orbyn Leger.
Williams was due to assemble with the All Blacks squad next week to prepare for the first Test against les Bleus to be played at Eden Park on Saturday, June 9.
The injury opens up some interesting questions for All Blacks coach Steve Hansen in terms of the make-up of his midfield.
SBW would have been his first choice at inside centre, but with him out it opens the door for the in-form Ngani Laumape to have an extended run in the No 12 shirt, alongside Ryan Crotty, who also has injury concerns, or Anton Lienert-Brown in the No13 position.
Some context on training ground injuries: Sonny Bill Williams will miss the ABs' forthcoming series v France after becoming the third player to be injured recently in the ABs' training camp
— owenslotTheTimes (@owenslot) June 1, 2018
All Blacks v France
Test Series (UAE Time)
09 Jun First Test Auckland 11:35
16 Jun Second Test Wellington 11.35
23 Jun Third Test Dunedin 11.35