Williams 'can't wait'

All Black and Blues lock Ali Williams is itching to get back into Super rugby at Kerikeri today- and he's putting injury worries right out of mind.
The 61-test veteran has been largely sidelined from All Black and Super rugby in the past two seasons due to multiple Achilles tendon injuries.
However, after playing a handful of low-profile games for the Nottingham club in England, he seems to have forgotten he ever had a Achilles problem.
"What Achilles?" was his response when asked about the touchy tendon after the Blues' captain's run at Ngungaru yesterday.
Williams' focus now has turned to the Super rugby competition, which should determine whether he's ready to re-enter the All Blacks squad in time for the World Cup later this year.
Today's game against the Hurricanes is going to be a cracker, Williams predicted.
"It's going to be good. I can't wait to play actually. I can't wait to get back into it," he said.
Williams said he expected a tough challenge from the Wellington franchise.
"It will be full on all right, once you're on the field there's no friends. It's good though, that's what you want, that's what you need going into a competition like this."
Blues coach Pat Lam agreed that the Hurricanes challenge was not one to be taken lightly, even with the boost of several returning All Blacks.
"This is the first week we've got a lot of the All Blacks back. The other guys who have been here over Christmas have done a lot of work but its just been getting the other guys back into things," he said.
Both Lam and Williams said they were fans of the Super rugby initiative to play competition games in the smaller towns of the province.
And Williams said he was looking forward to playing his first game in Kerikeri.
"I think it's brilliant that we can move the games around from the big centres. It's not so competition or revenue based, it's more about teams working together," he said.
"It's not so regulated, so to speak, the stands are more makeshift, the people are there for the occasion and it obviously doesn't come around very often so people enjoy it a little bit more."
Lam said it was great for the team to get out and play in the far reaches of the community that supports them, especially after last week's wild weather and floods in Northland.
"Certainly we feel for the people up here.
"Hopefully the game up here will bring some happiness to them," he said.