Spotlight on Williams

New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen insists Sonny Bill Williams is a "massively better" player in his second spell in rugby union.

Williams has been retained at inside centre for Saturday's QBE International against England at Twickenham after scoring two tries in last weekend's 74-6 victory over the United States.

It will be only his second union match since ending a two-year stint in Australia's National Rugby League competition with Sydney Roosters.

"Sonny Bill is massively better this time around. We saw what he was like against a tier-two nation, now we want to see what he's like against a tier-one nation," Hansen said.

"We haven't got a lot of Test matches between now and the World Cup starting so we need to get some answers.

"He's always been an instinct-type of athlete. That's why he's such a good league player, why he's a good boxer - he's got good instincts, good ability to adapt and adjust.

"It's a lot easier coming back for the second time. The same thing happened to Brad Thorn. They struggle when they first come into the game because they don't understand it.

"They then go back to another sport but at the same time they keep watching the game they've come from and keep growing their understanding. That's what Sonny has done very well.

"He's always known he's going to come back to rugby at some point and he's just kept watching the game and growing his learning and understanding."

He will be against Kyle Eastmond, who, five months ago shouldered the blame for England's implosion in the final Test in New Zealand by enduring the dishonour of being replaced at half-time.

Just two weeks after his clever footwork had tormented the All Blacks in Auckland, Eastmond's defensive frailties were exploited amid a poor team performance that resulted in a 29-6 half-time deficit.

While his international last rites were being read outside the England camp, a conversation with Stuart Lancaster at Auckland Airport convinced the head coach there would be no lasting damage to the rugby league convert's confidence.

An outstanding start to the season at Bath, where he has been the Aviva Premiership's form player, combined with Manu Tuilagi's autumn-ending groin injury, have seen him earn another crack at the All Blacks at Twickenham on Saturday

"We talked after the third Test and Kyle said 'don't worry about me, I'll be back and I'll make sure I'm starting at inside centre for Bath and England'. And that determination has carried him through," Lancaster said.

Upon his return from the 3-0 series whitewash in New Zealand there was no guarantee Eastmond would be picked by Bath, never mind England.

A troubled 2013-14 season reached its nadir when he walked out on his club team-mates midway through a game and was dropped by his club for the final month of the season.

Redemption seemed to come in June when he lit up Eden Park, but having been dropped for the second Test to make room for Billy Twelvetrees, it was snatched away when reinstated for the third as the All Blacks marauded down his channel.

"The third Test didn't go as well as we'd have liked, for the team and for me as an individual, but I'm not stupid enough to think 40 minutes is going to put me back," Eastmond said.

"I've never been big, so I'm used to it. You just get in there. It's not all about size, you have to understand your opposite number, what he's going to do and be ready for that," Eastmond said.

"If you're ready you can produce good performances. Hopefully we can put in a great performance."