Rugby: Injury woes bundle Williams out for a month

Ali Williams' hamstring injury comes as his Achilles tendon heals. Photo / APN

The injury-ravaged past few seasons for Blues lock Ali Williams hit another road bump yesterday when he damaged a hamstring and headed for a month on the sidelines.

Williams was into the fourth game on his Super 15 comeback when he pulled up lame during his side's messy 22-all draw against the Force in Perth.

"He's done a hamstring and at this stage it is looking like four weeks out," said coach Pat Lam.

Like many, Lam wondered whether his most experienced lock had re-injured the Achilles tendon which had kept him out of rugby for most of the past two seasons. The verdict was a hamstring injury which left Williams frustrated but philosophical about his fortunes.

The Blues were not as divided in their opinions about their deadlock against the Force.

Once Lam and his staff addressed the squad, captain Keven Mealamu called a players-only meeting to detail the frustration and seek solutions for their latest sporting torpor.

"He was very frustrated as captain and asked the others to step up," Lam said.

The latest Super 15 round began encouragingly for New Zealand teams with the Crusaders' thumping win against the Brumbies.

The Highlanders reproduced their grit but could not break down the Stormers' defences in Cape Town before the Hurricanes overcame the Chiefs in a rousing derby at the Cake Tin.

Then there were the Blues. They had to expect maximum points in Perth, instead they would have been mighty relieved to collect two for the draw when Stephen Brett goaled a 40m penalty after the siren.

They were frustrated, Lam said, by the scrum calls from referee Nathan Pearce.

The coach insinuated Force prop Matt Dunning was an issue in the scrum collapses but escaped a great deal of punishment.

Elsewhere though the coach accepted his side had been careless with possession and failed to build enough pressure.

"There was a lack of patience," Lam agreed.

The Force had been committed defenders but the Blues made it easier for them by making poor decisions.

The Blues seven points collection out of a possible 15 from their offshore matches against the Sharks, Lions and Force, was not as lucrative as they imagined.

However, after three weeks away, they only had to travel round New Zealand and once to Brisbane for the rest of the pool games.

"We have to get home, recover and then we are back on Eden Park [on Saturday against the Hurricanes]," Lam said.

Loose forwards Daniel Braid and Jerome Kaino were suffering some wear and tear damage after some heavy collisions but should recover.

Williams' latest injury is likely to leave Anthony Boric and Kurtis Haiu as locks against the Hurricanes with backup from Filo Paulo.

There has been no word yet about the likely return of former All Black Brad Mika who is recovering from knee troubles while young Liaki Moli has had shoulder surgery.

This Friday, the Chiefs start the Super 15 action with a home game against the undefeated Sharks while the Crusaders travel to Dunedin for the early Saturday game against the Highlanders before the Blues host the Hurricanes.

The visitors will have Ma'a Nonu available after suspension though there may be doubts about some of their tight five who picked up injuries against the Chiefs.