All Blacks new weapon Sonny Bill Williams more than just a 'crash man'

• Sonny Bill Williams makes his All Blacks debut at Twickenham today as they seek a ninth straight win over England Picture: Getty

Rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams will make his debut for the All Blacks, handing the strapping centre an opportunity to prove himself on the international stage ten months before the World Cup.

After taking the 13-man game by storm from 2004-08, Williams has all the credentials to be a hit in union with his power, strength and ability to pick a hole in a defence and offload.

After learning his trade alongside England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson at French side Toulon for two seasons, he returned to New Zealand and showed some impressive form in seven matches for eventual national champions Canterbury.

Williams, replacing the injured Conrad Smith, will partner Ma'a Nonu in a fearsome-looking midfield partnership for the world's No 1-ranked team and heavy favourites, having not lost away to northern-hemisphere opposition in 19 matches.

"I've been really impressed over the last two weeks how he's fitted in," New Zealand captain Richie McCaw said of Williams. "He's picked up everything we've been doing pretty easily. He doesn't just want to be a crash man - he's got the ability to distribute.

"He's been in big games before. He's played international league and in Europe, he's been in big occasions, it won't be a big issue. Like anyone playing their first cap, he'll have all sorts of emotions but I'm sure he'll handle it."

Williams, who will be the first player to represent New Zealand from rugby league since Karl Ifwersen in 1921, is one of four changes to the side that lost 26-24 to Australia in Hong Kong last weekend. Winger Hosea Gear, scrum-half Alby Mathewson and lock Sam Whitelock have also been brought in by coach Graham Henry, whose team swept to the Tri-Nations title.

New Zealand have not lost to England since being defeated 15-13 in Wellington in June 2003. On that occasion, Martin Johnson was England's captain and his team battled to victory despite being reduced to 13 men at one stage. Now England's manager, Johnson knows the size of the task facing his players.

"We will have to play the best this team has played if we're going to win," said Johnson, whose side is coming off a rare win in Australia in June.

"We have to have confidence and belief in what we are doing. Winning test matches is what we are here to do and we will do whatever we can to do it."

That could mean ditching England's new-found attacking mindset in favour of a defensive game plan against a team which scored 22 tries in the Tri-Nations.

"We want to make this a good, old-fashioned test rugby game. Whatever you think that means, we know what it means. We're pretty confident about what we can do defensively," England assistant coach Mike Ford said.

England No 8 Nick Easter believes his team can go toe to toe with the All Blacks at their own attacking game. "Some of the rugby they played (against Australia) last week was scintillating stuff but we firmly believe we can play to that intensity," Easter said.

England are without Wilkinson, the world's leading pointscorer in test rugby, after the fly-half sustained a shoulder injury on club duty last weekend. But giant prop Andrew Sheridan returns after a shoulder problem and will play for England for the first time since the 2009 Six Nations.

Sheridan comes in for Tim Payne in the only change to the XV that started the win against Australia. Shontayne Hape, a former New Zealand rugby league team-mate of Williams, continues at centre alongside Mike Tindall, and their midfield contest against Williams and Nonu should be thunderous.

Next up for the All Blacks is Scotland at Murrayfield next Saturday.

England: B Foden (Northampton); C Ashton (Northampton), M Tindall (Gloucester), S Hape (Bath), M Cueto (Sale Sharks); T Flood (Leicester), B Youngs (Leicester); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), S Thompson (Leeds), D Cole (Leicester), C Lawes (Northampton), T Palmer (Stade Francais), T Croft (Leicester), L Moody (Bath, capt), N Easter (Harlequins). Substitutes: D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Bath), D Attwood (Gloucester), H Fourie (Leeds), D Care (Harlequins), C Hodgson (Sale), D Armitage (London Irish).

New Zealand: M Muliaina; J Rokocoko, S B Williams, M Nonu, H Gear; D Carter, A Mathewson; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, O Franks, B Thorn, S Whitelock, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), K Read. Substitutes: H Elliot, B Franks, A Boric, L Messam, A Ellis, S Donald, I Toeava.

Referee: R Poite (France).