All Blacks: Williams' injury poser for selectors

Ali Williams is sidelined again with Achilles tendon problems. Photo / Getty Images

Now the acid goes on the All Black coaches and their tyro locks.

With senior man Ali Williams sidelined again with Achilles tendon problems, the selectors have to weigh up whether to continue with both Isaac Ross and Bryn Evans as sidekicks for ironman Brad Thorn or introduce a more experienced lock for the Tri-Nations series. That decision will come down to performances this weekend from the All Blacks against Italy and the Junior All Blacks, who have their final match next week against Tonga in Suva.

Anthony Boric is not an option as he is only six weeks into his recovery after surgery on a broken toe and Jason Eaton, Tom Donnelly, Jeremy Thrush and Craig Clarke are locks with the Juniors.

Of those, Eaton has the greatest experience but he did not cut it when the panel was originally looking for locking cover. Evans got the callup from the Juniors and the selectors have enthused regularly about his potential. To cut him now would eliminate him from more valuable comparisons against the best from Australia and South Africa.

Meanwhile, Williams will see a specialist next week about treatment for his damaged right Achilles tendon.

His Tri-Nations involvement looks over and if surgery is required, Williams will miss the rest of this year.

"It is an uncommon injury in his age-group because he has not ruptured it," All Blacks Dr Deb Robinson said. "We have exhausted our conservative management options. He looked the best he had for some time, he was fine on Tuesday but then could not finish Thursday's training."

Williams' season has been blighted by injury. He struggled early with a lingering back injury and did not travel with the Blues to South Africa. Then he damaged his Achilles in his fourth game back against the Waratahs, sat out three weeks, reinjured the tendon against the Hurricanes and hasn't played since.

He was being set for a return against Italy in Christchurch tonight but broke down at training and will see a specialist next week.

The All Blacks start their six-test Tri-Nations programme against the Wallabies at Eden Park on July 18 with a conclusion against the same team on September 19 in Wellington. They are not planning for Williams to be involved.

"It will be a bonus if he can play in the Tri-Nations I would think because once they get into that tendon I would say it's going to be a long time," coach Graham Henry said.

In Williams' absence, Ross has shown much of the promise his predecessor did when he was drafted in for the first of his 61 tests in 2002.

Williams' Achilles problems follow those of five-eighths Daniel Carter, who was injured in the off-season in France but has returned to New Zealand and is expected to resume his sport through club and national championship matches. Williams has remained with the All Blacks in Christchurch.

"He's shattered but he's putting on a brave face around the troops," Henry said of his senior lock.

The All Black squad for the Tri-Nations will be revealed next Saturday. The selectors will name 30 players but only 26 will travel to South Africa and 24 to Australia for the three overseas internationals in July and August.