Sonny Bill Williams has been named to start at inside centre when the All Blacks face the Springboks in Wellington on Saturday.

Williams has proven himself fit to start after recovering sufficiently from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of last Saturday’s match.

He forms the midfield partnership with Jack Goodhue, one of a host of Crusaders players who come back into the lineup after being rested.

The starting XV shows 12 changes from the one that claimed a narrow 20-16 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires last weekend.

Beauden Barrett, who shifts to fullback, and Ben Smith, who starts on the wing as a result, as well as Brodie Retallick, are the only three players who retain their starting places.

Richie Mo’unga takes up the spot at flyhalf, forming the halfback pairing with TJ Perenara, with Aaron Smith named on the bench.

The side is captained by Kieran Read, who forms a loose trio with Matt Todd and Shannon Frizell, while Sam Cane drops out of the match-day squad entirely.

All Blacks – 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Subs: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Vaea Fifita, 20 Dalton Papali’i, 21 Aaron Smith, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 George Bridge.

Photo: Dianne Manson/Getty Images