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Lions must stop Sonny Bill Williams for any chance of beating All Blacks, says Rhys Webb

DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND - APRIL 08:  Sonny Bill Williams of the Blues makes a break during the round seven Super Rugby match between the Highlanders and the B
Image: Stopping Sonny Bill Williams is essential to any Lions success, says Rhys Webb

The British and Irish Lions must stop "monster" centre Sonny Bill Williams to stand any chance of beating New Zealand, according to Rhys Webb.

Williams conjured a devastating break and offload to send Ihaia West haring home for the winning try as the Blues floored the Lions 22-16 at Eden Park.

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Head coach Warren Gatland admitted "one moment of magic" was all it took to unpick the Lions, and Wales scrum-half Webb accepts the tourists will have their work cut out to contain Williams in the fast-approaching Tests against the All Blacks.

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"He's a monster; everyone knows what he can do," said Webb, of former rugby league star and ex-boxing champion Williams.

Webb was excellent for the Lions against the Blues
Image: Webb was apart of the Lions team which lost to the Blues on Wednesday

"He got them over the gain line. He's got that class about him. We know he's going to be a threat in a couple of weeks' time so it's good to play against him now. He's special, he's an athlete, he's a world-class individual.

"He's a big-game player, he's world class, he showed a couple of glimpses of what he can do.

"Obviously he's been out for a while with injury, he's coming back to a bit of form now. We'll need to be on the money to stop him in a couple of weeks' time.

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Sonny Bill Williams of the Blues celebrates his try during the match between the Blues and the British & Irish Lions
Image: Williams was a key performer for the Blues as they beat the Lions 22-16 at Eden Park

"Our defence has got to be strong, we've got to be physical, and obviously track that offload as well. He can throw these unbelievable offloads from nowhere.

"If you try to tackle him high [to stop the offload] he might sit you down and bounce you. We need to be alert at all times, and be disciplined.

 Sonny Bill Williams of New Zealand warms up before the 2016 Singapore Sevens Cup Quarter Final
Image: The 31-year-old has 33 caps for the All Blacks, while he has also represented New Zealand in rugby league

"We think Sonny Bill Williams is going to start [for the All Blacks]. I don't know who will play outside him but whoever they play is going to be a threat so we just have to be on our money."

Despite the glaring dangers, Webb remained adamant the Lions were not about to send out any distress signals after their first defeat in a 10-match tour.

 Sonny Bill Williams offloads to Ihaia West to set up the winning try.
Image: The offloads of Williams are key to the All Blacks' game

"There's no sense of panic, not at all," Webb added. "Obviously we lost and we're disappointed but we'll keep our heads up.

"We'll review the game tomorrow and learn from it and move on pretty quick. But we're not going to drop our heads.

"We knew it was going to be tough, we knew it was going to be a challenge coming over, so we'll look forward to it."

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