Threat of Sonny Bill looms large for Boks

Judgment day is drawing closer and Springbok coach Peter de Villiers will finally see if his planning is enough to stop All Black centre Sonny Bill Williams for 80 minutes when the teams clash in Port Elizabeth.

Earlier this year, De Villiers was critical of Williams' high-risk offloads and unconventional style, although he acknowledged the player's exceptional talent.

"Backhand passes shouldn't be the norm . it has become the norm, now everyone wants to do that kind of nonsense," De Villiers said of Williams' approach to the game.

"This kind of non-rugby stuff he's doing, if it comes off, it's brilliant, but do you have control over these kind of things? If you get to the international level, where people work you out, then you have to be in control of what you're doing.

"If you close down his space, put pressure on him and hit him hard, and if you don't dance around with him like he does, then no way," De Villiers said.

This is the first time the 1.91m, 108kg centre with hands softer than a geisha girl's will have a lengthy chance to ram it down the Bok coach's throat, after playing only 25 minutes from the bench in Wellington three weeks ago.

It has added spice to the dust-up.

And De Villiers seems intent on making enemies wherever he goes. The coach had a stab at the media for not criticising the All Blacks for leaving so many first-choice players behind. Perhaps we should wait until after the game before throwing stones from inside this particular glass house.

Williams is set to make his first test start of the year in place of the rested Ma'a Nonu. Anyone who thinks Williams is a second choice is deluded. He showed time and again in the Super 15 that he can split a defence in a wide array of ways and it will be surprising if he isn't at the heart of at least one big moment in the game.

All Black backline coach Wayne Smith believes Williams is well rested after being gradually brought back into the setup following the Crusaders' gruelling Super 15 schedule.

"He is due a start. When he came into camp he was a bit jaded, but we have given him enough time to hit his straps and I'm picking he will be pretty hot," Smith said.

Along with a resurgent Richard Kahui, the pair will form a formidable midfield unit, while the return of fullback Israel Dagg, after he tore a quad muscle against the Stormers in April, is also a boost.

Hooker Keven Mealamu will lead a new-look All Blacks for a second time, two years after first taking charge of the team, against Scotland on their grand slam tour.

The 84-test veteran will be named as captain this morning and will lead a team bursting with talent, even if several of the so-called A team are not available.