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Officials looking into possible Sonny Bill Williams concussion miss in Rugby Championship opener

Centre was not assessed during New Zealand’s 54-34 win over Australia on Saturday in Sydney

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New Zealand’s Sonny Bill Williams is tackled by Australia’s Curtis Rona and Henry Speight. Photo: Reuters

Southern hemisphere rugby’s governing body is looking into whether medical officials should have conducted concussion tests on New Zealand centre Sonny Bill Williams during Saturday’s Rugby Championship opener against Australia.

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The 32-year-old stumbled badly after making a tackle early in the All Blacks’ 54-34 victory in Sydney and appeared disorientated before being involved in two more heavy collisions before play stopped.

However, he was not checked out by the team’s medical staff or the independent doctor employed to assess head injuries.

News Corp Australia said that Sanzaar had opened an investigation after reviewing footage of the incidents.

Williams appeared lucid in a television interview after Saturday’s game and All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said the following day that no one had noticed him suffering any adverse effects from the collisions.

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Watch” New Zealand 54-34 Australia highlights

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