Hansen sees positives in Sonny Bill's injury

Williams was due to rejoin the New Zealand side for the Rugby Championship after the Olympics but his Rio campaign lasted only eight minutes before he suffered a ruptured Achilles. 

The injury will keep him sidelined for at least six months, Hansen said Thursday as he named Chiefs midfield back Anton Lienert-Brown as Williams's replacement.

Williams will undergo surgery when he returns to New Zealand from Rio and will not take the field again until next year.

"It's disappointing," Hansen said. 

"He's a world-class player and he plays in a position where we've already lost two players [Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith] overseas, so it's not great for the planning. But it is what it is. 

"If you look at the positive side for Sonny, it gives him now six or seven months where his body gets a break and he probably hasn't had that for a long time… It might frustrate him but it won't hurt him."

Hansen said he opted for the uncapped Lienert-Brown as the replacement because of his versatility to play inside or outside centre.

Agence France-Presse