Rugby: Williams eager to consign injury woes to dustbin

Ali Williams. Photo / Getty Images

Ali Williams. Remember him? Big guy, a shade over a couple of metres, 115kg, jumps in the middle of the Blues lineout?

Was making another comeback this season, then vanished. Yeah, that's the one. Well, he's back.

Back in the Blues, back talking about his staccato season and his hopes for the rest of the programme.

Back at North Harbour stadium where he suffered an Achilles' tendon injury which has blighted his last two seasons.

Memories of returning to that accident scene left him feeling "scared shitless" about tomorrow's match, especially as he is coming off another injury.

Williams limped off early against the Force in Perth almost six weeks ago when his hamstring failed to respond to instructions.

At least it wasn't another Achilles' problem. Small comfort for the experienced lock in his comeback year, but some upside to another frustrating spell on the sidelines.

Now Williams is back to play the Rebels at North Harbour Stadium tomorrow. His recovery has been timely with Kurtis Haiu concussed last week and knocked out of coach Pat Lam's selection choices.

The 30-year-old Williams has been working hard to get back into the Super 15 frame while the staff have been careful not to reintroduce him too early.

They do not want another mishap as Williams pushes the Blues' cause and his own shot at securing selection in the World Cup.

That balancing act is over. Williams will partner fellow All Black Anthony Boric whose season looked fragile when he was wounded against the Hurricanes.

But the pair of crocks have recovered to resume a partnership which may have national importance as well.

The pair started as an All Black locking combination in three tests in 2008 when Brad Thorn was spelled, before Williams' injury woes began.

Meanwhile Boric has raised his test tally to 20 caps, but has been joined in selection jousts by the rising influence of Sam Whitelock.

Tomorrow it is Williams and Boric in the Blues uniform against Alister Campbell and Hugh Pyle for the Rebels.

Williams rocked up to practice at Albany yesterday, indulged in a bit of verbal ping pong with the media on a range of issues then bounded away to settle into practice.

To say he was keen is like mentioning Bessie Bunter liked her food. But Williams knows he must start again, he must begin gradually and methodically.

He must do the basics, work his way back into a rugby rhythm which is going to benefit himself and the Blues.

He has taken some steps forward and then stalled.

He must regroup, take some deep breaths and consolidate.

"I went through a lot of crap last year and then the start of this and thought I was slowly getting into it and then had a little hiccup, but now we're back and up and running," he said.

He batted away more questions about his latest injury as over-analysis. It had just been a hamstring strain.

"I miss you guys," he jested. "Hey if it goes it goes, what can I do?"

He reckoned he had sworn off the drink earlier this year as part of his rehab regime and would remain alcohol-free for some time.

He had been back training for three weeks but was not yet at the same level when his hamstring failed him against the Force.

Williams said he was staying in New Zealand for some years yet - he had not reached his potential and was determined to make that here.

"I love this country and I want to stay here," he said. "Rugby is a stepping stone, but it is not the be all and end-all of life. You can go and cash up for two years but what does it leave you after that?

He had worked the video analysis on the Rebels. They had plenty of attacking flair and did not neglect the setpiece.

"They are quite strict there on what they want to do and what they want to deliver and in terms of physicality they are up there."

The Rebels had some serious lineout height, said Williams, but that was only one part of winning possession. It was a tussle he looked forward to but not as much as getting out again on the paddock.