Williams suspended for four weeks

All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams has been suspended for four weeks after pleading guilty to unnecessary contact to the head.

Williams was red-carded in the 25th minute of the 24-21 second Test defeat against the British and Irish Lions after his shoulder charge to the face of Lions winger Anthony Watson.

Williams became the first All Black in 50 years to be sent off and will now miss the third and decisive Test.

"Sonny is disappointed. Not for himself. He accepts that he made a mistake and he's disappointed that he has let the team down," said All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.

"The mantra is that the team comes first and he knows he has let them down. But we can't go back and change it either. People make mistakes. It is a fluid game. It is a fast game and unfortunately he has made a mistake and we have to move on from it."

The All Blacks have called Malakai Fekitoa into the squad as Williams' replacement.