SBW cleared to play for the All Blacks

Sonny Bill Williams was today cleared by his new Japanese club to play in the All Blacks‘ opening Rugby Championship matches against Australia.
Despite his upcoming departure to Japan, the New Zealand Rugby Union asked the Panasonic Wild Knights to release their high-profile signing so he could cover for the injured Conrad Smith and Richard Kahui in back-to-back outings against the Wallabies
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said: “It’s what we expected, but we knew it was going to take a bit of time, and we are now all looking forward to preparing for Saturday’s challenge.”
Williams should feature in Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup against the Wallabies in Sydney as well as the following week in Auckland.