Williams happy to be back with Taniwha in ITM Cup

Bryce Williams is having a blast back playing in the cambridge blue jersey.
Eleven years after leaving his home province as a 19-year-old, the 203cm lock was welcomed back into the fold in time for the 2011 ITM Cup and has been impressive, with solid work around the field and as part of a hard-working Northland tight five.
"I originally come from Dargaville and it's great to put on the cambridge blue jersey and wear the kauri tree on my chest. I'm proud to be representing my family and my province," the 31-year-old Williams said.
Before leaving the province, Williams sat on the bench for Northland during several National Provincial Championship matches and played one pre-season game. He then went to Auckland for five seasons where he was a regular starter for the province, spent a season with the Crusaders, followed by a stint with the Blues, before heading offshore.
"I spent six years overseas - playing for Leinster in Ireland and for French club Bourgoin-Jallieu - it's good being back and playing my first proper season for Northland."
Williams, who has been an instrumental part of Northland's set piece, has started all the Taniwha's ITM Cup matches this season, at either No4 or No5, and said the competition this year was fierce.
"The standard of rugby in New Zealand is way higher than in the Northern Hemisphere. It is just as physical but they play an older style of rugby and more in the forwards, whereas in New Zealand, it's much faster. You need a different kind of fitness and a different kind of mentality. Here, you play more as a team," Williams said.
The lock has been brought up to speed by former Blues teammate and current Northland forwards coach Derren Witcombe, and said he was holding up well physically considering the intensity of the competition.
"I'm all good, touch wood, and free of injury. I'm just taking one game at a time. In this competition, if you get injured and you're out for three weeks, that's pretty much the end of your season."
Williams rates tonight's round eight clash against Wellington at Westpac Stadium as a massive one for the Taniwha, who head into the crossover match after knocking over premiership leaders Bay of Plenty last Thursday to win their third from five matches.
Wellington have lost their last two games, to Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay, but have a formidable line-up for tonight's match, including All Blacks Cory Jane and Hosea Gear, released for the NPC round.
"They will be doing their best to avoid losing three in a row, and will be tough up front. Their forward pack has a lot of former All Blacks and Super Rugby players in it ... We have a few injuries which has meant a couple of changes but we're really looking forward to a big week," Williams said.
The Taniwha head straight to Christchurch following tonight's match, for their last crossover match against Canterbury.
Northland coach Adriaan Ferris has made several changes ahead of tonight. Cam Eyre will start at openside flanker for the injured Dan Pryor (pectoral muscle), while Dan Faleafa starts at blindside flanker for Joel McKenty, who has a injured shoulder.
Skipper Jared Payne returns to play at centre, after two games out with a hip injury, while Derek Carpenter moves to the bench. Danny Mason and Marty Veale are also back in the mix, starting on the bench.
Kickoff at Westpac Stadium tonight is at 7.35pm.
Northland: 1 Justin Davies, 2 Ross Wright, 3 Scott Vessey, 4 Bryce Williams, 5 Mark Burman, 6 Dan Faleafa, 7 Cam Eyre, 8 Cam Goodhue, 9 Rhyan Caine, 10 Jack McPhee, 11 Bryce Heem, 12 Aaron Bancroft, 13 Jared Payne (c), 14 Simon Munro, 15 Lachie Munro. Reserves: 16 Tevita Vaipulu, 17 Aterea Davis, 18 Marty Veale, 19 Danny Mason, 20 Wayne Ngaluafe, 21 Ash Moeke, 22 Derek Carpenter, 23 Jamie Corsi.
Wellington: 1 Reggie Goodes, 2 Motu Matu'u, 3 Neemia Tialata, 4 Jeremy Thrush (c), 5 Mark Reddish, 6 Brad Shields, 7 Dean Brunsdon, 8 Faifili Levave, 9 Frae Wilson, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 11 Hosea Gear, 12 Michael Hobbs, 13 Shaun Treeby, 14 Alapati Leiua, 15 Cory Jane. Reserves: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Scott Fuglistaller, 19 Victor Vito, 20 TJ Perenara, 21 Michael Lealava'a, 22 Charlie Ngatai, 23 Arden David-Perrot.