EXCLUSIVE: Sonny Bill's passionate plea for radical, 'controversial' All Blacks shakeup

Sonny Bill Williams has pleaded for New Zealand Rugby to scrap its selection criteria while calling for multiple changes in a revamped All Blacks backline.

The dual code great made the passionate comments on Stan Sport's Between Two Posts in the wake of the All Blacks losing their Rugby Championship crown for the first time since 2019

New Zealand coach Scott Robertson cannot currently select players who are plying their trade offshore unless they have committed to return home to play Super Rugby Pacific the following year.

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That draws a selection line through the Rugby World Cup halves pairing of Aaron Smith and Richie Mo'unga as well as star forwards Brodie Retallick and Shannon Frizell.

"This might be a little bit controversial but I don't care," Williams said.

"I think we should be picking these guys, easy... it's about the cattle.

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"And if we have these players, we have a Shannon Frizell to pick from, we have Aaron Smith to pick from - the game changes.

"Mo'unga... you've got to pick what's best for the squad at the current time... the All Blacks, we have a problem."

Williams, a two-time World Cup winner, said Frizell on the blindside with Wallace Sititi at No.8 and Ardie Savea on the openside was the strongest possible backrow.

NEW PODCAST! Former foes Bernard Foley and Sonny Bill Williams join Sean Maloney and Morgan Turinui to preview Bledisloe Cup

"At the highest level, we have some players there that have experience in this space that should be playing, right here right now."

Williams argued the All Blacks "potentially" would have beaten the world champion Springboks in both Rugby Championship Tests in South Africa if they had the same selection policy.

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus picks heavily from stars playing in Japan and Europe.

"Success leaves clues," Williams said.

"What's South Africa doing? Players can come over (from overseas) and they're still thriving."

His comments follow those from a trio of former Wallabies on BTP.

Rugby Australia's policy is not as strict as New Zealand's but Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has only selected Marika Koroibete from offshore so far.

Williams said he would like RA to also open the floodgates and pick experienced playmakers like Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley from Japan.

If forced to pick from players in the current squad, Williams said Beauden Barrett should replace Damian McKenzie as the All Blacks No.10.

He would pair Anton Lienert-Brown and Rieko Ioane in midfield with Jordie Barrett at fullback and Caleb Clarke and Mark Tele'a on the wings.

Williams stressed the need for a strong bench which could feature the likes of McKenzie and Will Jordan.

"Just to add that spice," he said.

"I would like a real emphasis on this being a 23 man game, that we're all in this and everyone's going to get game time... I'm not happy because I know what the All Blacks are capable of... You're telling me Aaron Smith is not a good fit right now?"

The opening Bledisloe Cup Test is in Sydney on Saturday.

Foley said the All Blacks were missing Smith's presence in particular.

"The level of the nines now coming in (Cortez Ratima and TJ Perenara), probably just don't have his ability to control the game. His width of pass and his kicking game is something that they relied on so much," the former Wallabies five-eighth said.

"When we played against them, off set piece they'd use his pass to get wide, get that go forward through the middle and then they're on the front foot and they can play width, they can kick on the front foot or they can hurt you.

"So I think they're probably missing him the most."