Williams vows not to put his foot in it

Ali Williams

Much like a born-again Christian or a reformed alcoholic, Ali Williams seems to be a new man.

It's what can happen when you're suspended for six weeks and you see your All Black career hanging inthe balance.

Often maligned for his wayward ways, Williams can still play the joker but he's added a serious edge having asked himself a few hard questions after being sidelined for stomping on the head of Richie McCaw.

He returned to the fold at Eden Park on Friday night and showed that, if he can keep out of trouble, the 24-year-old lock is certain to be in the thoughts of Graham Henry when the Lions descend. He was one of the stand-out players on the park, working efficiently in the lineouts and adding strength to the rucks and mauls in an under-performing yet injury-hit Blues outfit.

Williams' misdemeanour became the talk of the nation six weeks ago. Debate raged over the severity of the sentence when other offenders in Australia and South Africa seemed to be treated, in some people's eyes, more leniently. Was it a malicious act or one of someone with poor technique? Instead of feeling like the world was against him, Williams had a hard look at himself.

"It was my foot that made the mistake and no one else's," he said honestly. "I could blame the citing commissioner and the rules but, at the end of the day, it was me and I have to cop the penalty.

"There are a lot of things I learned and the rucking shoes have gone. I promised myself that no more crap is going to happen.

"Having a rest really made me appreciate what I've got and what this game means to me. I have learned the hard way a lot of the time but this is such a big part of my life and I've got to appreciate it because it can change pretty quickly."

The locking landscape has also changed pretty quickly over the course of the Super 12 with the emergence of talented youngsters like James Ryan and Ross Kennedy and the uncertainty hanging over the future of Norm Maxwell.

While Ryan and Kennedy have obvious potential, Williams' experience and strength will be invaluable against bruising Lions locks like Danny Grewcock, Ben Kay and Paul O'Connell. He could find himself packing down with Chris Jack in the second row.

Williams, though, knows better than anyone not to take anything for granted and admitted he felt threatened watching the emergence of the likes of Ryan and Kennedy.

It's why he steadfastly refutes talk of a locking crisis in New Zealand. "That's a load of rubbish," he dismissed with a shake of the head before rattling off five names who could do the job for the All Blacks. "There's no way we have a crisis. "

The Blues have something of an injury crisis ahead of their final Super 12 game against the Waratahs next weekend and added Mils Muliaina (rotator cuff), Craig McGrath (calf), Daniel Braid (thigh) and Tasesa Lavea (hamstring) on Friday to an already long list. It prompted Blues coach Peter Sloane to joke that manager and former All Black halfback Ant Strachan could come out of retirement, such is the dearth of fit halfbacks in the region, although they are hopeful Steve Devine will be fit.

The Blues must win in Sydney on Friday night and hope other results go their way but Williams feels a bit removed from this having been on the sidelines for more than half the campaign and has his eyes on a bigger prize.

"Of course I want to play the Lions," he said. "It's an opportunity of a lifetime. But if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen and I only have myself to blame. If it does happen then I have to make the most of it because the next day I could be back on the sidelines."

Before the philosophical Williams took his leave with the media he went through a list of the lessons he had learned: "Don't wear white boots," he joked. "Don't ruck and, one of the biggest ones was, don't even go near Richie [McCaw] because New Zealand loves him, and why not? He's a great athlete."

What Williams would give to receive that sort of adoration but at least the penny seems to have dropped and he can get on with trying to repair his dented image. All will be forgiven if he helps the All Blacks beat the Lions this winter.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY