SBW's ripped jersey up for auction

Sonny Bill Williams will put his ripped jersey up for charity auction for the Violet Foundation. Photo / Getty Images

All Black Sonny Bill Williams will put his ripped jersey up for a good cause following his wardrobe malfunction in the opening match of the Rugby World Cup at Eden Park.

The second-five delighted the crowd when he changed his jersey with the help of doctor Deb Robinson - an incident replayed countless times on computers around the world.

"I've been with a charity back in Australia, the Violet Foundation [which raises awareness of meningococcal disease], since I was a young chap. So to give some money back to them is good. Hopefully it gets a fair bit,'' he said today.

"It just got ripped in a tackle and it was all over the place. So I thought I'd just rip it off.

"I could hear the boys giving me a hard time, especially [All Blacks prop] Benny Franks. I think he's a little jealous [of my body].

"Benny's trying to take me under his wing a bit. He reckons I'm all show, no go,'' Williams quipped. "Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I can prove him wrong.''

The manufacturers have sent the jersey to China in an attempt to find out why it ripped.

Meanwhile 4000 fans 'mobbed' Sonny Bill Williams during an appearance at Rebel Sport in Te Rapa today.

He, along with three of his All Blacks teammates, Conrad Smith, Isaia Toeava and Ben Franks signed autographs for an hour at the sports store in the Hamilton district.

The All Blacks play Japan on Saturday at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Friday night and after an impressive performance against Tonga, Sonny Bill could be included for his first consecutive run-on start in the black jersey.

- APNZ /HERALD ONLNE