All Blacks: Williams may play in Europe to aid fitness

Ali Williams. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Injured lock Ali Williams could look to Europe for a short-term contract overseas in a bid to get match-hardened before the 2011 World Cup season.

Williams has been plagued by an Achilles tendon injury that has required three operations and, with little prospect of him making the end-of-season tour, it will be more than two years since the last of his 61 tests when the All Blacks' campaign begins next year.

That has raised the possibility of Williams taking up a short-term contract in Europe to help bridge the gap back to Super 15 then international rugby.

"He might play a bit of stuff around Christmas, have a run around somewhere," All Black coach Graham Henry said. "But he just needs to take his time, make sure he does things correctly week in and week out and build on what he's doing.

"I can't see him him playing any big, competitive football until next year."

The 29-year-old lock first injured his Achilles towards the end of last year's Super 14 campaign, though it was not until he aggravated it while in camp with the All Blacks for the June internationals that it was decided he needed surgery.

His comeback in this year's Super 14 lasted just four minutes of his first pre-season game before he tore his tendon from the bone while jogging into position.

His rehabilitation suffered a setback in May, when he started experiencing sharp pain in the troublesome right ankle. A scan showed a partial tear to the same tendon above where the second operation had occurred.

He was seen sideline in a moon-boot during the test against South Africa at Eden Park.

"Ali is doing very well. I see him most weeks," Henry said. "He's cock-a-hoop about where he's at. He'd like to play tomorrow but it's going to take some time.

"The early signs are very good and I think he feels they're the best they've been since he's had this problem."

Williams did not respond to an inquiry about the possibility of him playing in Europe this summer, an idea that is understood to be still at the embryonic stage, but had this to say about his rehabilitation in his latest website entry: "Things are tracking along nicely with my injury. I'm slowly beginning to walk without the moon-boot. It's great to be walking again but nerve-racking at the same time."

Henry's other long-term injury problem, Isaia Toeava, is still rated a chance of making the end-of-year tour.

"Ice [Toeava] is going through a similar situation where he's had a problem with his hip that they're tried to correct in different ways. Now he's had an operation and he can't push it too quickly because he could get the same problem back.

"Ice could be in line for selection for the end-of-year tour if he gets back on the field before then."

Easing the pain of the loss of two potential World Cup cornerstones has been the development of some of the newcomers to the All Blacks.

Crusaders' lock Sam Whitelock has played limited minutes only in the Tri-Nations with the All Black panel preferring the experienced Brad Thorn and Tom Donnelly, but has shown enough to suggest he has a big future.

"He's bright, he's big and he's a good athlete and he's also a good pro. He's got all the attributes you need," Henry said. "He just needs time really and for us to not push him too quickly."

While Toeava has the advantage of covering several positions along the backline, Henry need not panic about back-up in the back three, with Israel Dagg looking to the manor born.

"It doesn't seem to affect him which level he plays," Henry said. "Probably the higher the level, the more he's ready to go."