SBW forced to wait appeal verdict

Sydney - All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams will have to wait to find out whether he will play in the opening Bledisloe Cup clash in Sydney, after the judiciary reserved judgement on his appeal on Tuesday.

Williams is currently suspended for four matches - after a shoulder charge on British and Irish Lions wing Anthony Watson - including the August 19 Bledisloe opener, but opted to appeal the decision after Rugby World Rugby rejected an All Blacks proposal that included two pre-season National Provincial Championship games and an inter-squad match in the suspension. 

The appeal committee of Graeme Mew, Shao-Ing Wang and Stefan Terblanche did not return a judgement after a two-hour hearing on Tuesday, though said in a statement they were committed to delivering a verdict as soon as possible.