Gamble on Williams pays off for Mitchell

By WYNNE GRAY in MELBOURNE

The importance of lock Ali Williams to the All Blacks' campaign was revealed by coach John Mitchell after the third pool win against Tonga.

Serious thought had been given to scrubbing the lineout jumper from the World Cup group as he battled with a stress fracture in his right foot.

After choosing to pick just three locks, with occasional help from skipper Reuben Thorne, Williams' late injury became a major issue as he missed the bulk of the final training camps.

He was in danger of getting the Do Not Travel To Australia card had the All Blacks' pool opponents been of much greater calibre than Italy, Canada and Tonga. That went unsaid from Mitchell, but the implication was there.

The easy section gave Williams, the medical staff and the selectors an extra fortnight's grace, although they took advantage of Tana Umaga's injury to whistle Norm Maxwell over on standby.

"We as selectors could have made a tough decision and left him [Williams] behind," Mitchell said, an indication of the close call. "But along with the medical staff we made the right decision. We put our trust in him, the team coped in his absence and he repaid them."

The match with Tonga became an even bigger mission than Williams expected when reserve lock Chris Jack sprained his right ankle when he fell awkwardly on prop Dave Hewett in a lineout session before the 91-7 walloping in Brisbane.

Williams was a strong early lineout contributor as the All Blacks dominated the set piece and then he ground through the second half, putting in his share of tackles and work in general play.

Apparently he showed no ill-effects after the match - the small pin inserted to help the fracture in his foot had stabilised the problem.

It will now be a mix of medical and selection wisdom as to which of the lineout leapers should be paired with the bulldozing Brad Thorn for the final pool game, against Wales in Sydney on Sunday.

Jack was hopeful he would be available but quarter-final caution will be the byword for a match neither side need to win.

Jack and new All Black Ben Atiga finally arrived for a media conference yesterday after their escorting liaison officer remembered Melbourne had switched to daylight saving.

Manager Tony Thorpe had been there for some time, choosing to travel by bicycle such is the team's proximity to the conference centre and familiarity with this city where they are based for the entire tournament.

For Jack, settling in this rugby backwater is just fine. He likes that lack of attention, although he says the team are still recognised when they wander out and about.

The test match intensity at Telstra Dome was the same as any massive international, the mental preparation remained the key to any test week.

Five-eighth Carlos Spencer offered a different view after several days in Brisbane, a city which pulses with rugby fervour. He appreciated that World Cup hum more than the isolation of Melbourne.

There is a strong chance, according to Thorpe, that Aaron Mauger will return to midfield for the last pool match against Wales in Sydney. He was running again on his damaged knee, while there remained some optimism Umaga might be available for the quarter-final.

After more thrilling backplay against Tonga, better forward expertise and Leon MacDonald's flawless goalkicking at centre, Mitchell scarcely budged when asked whether he had more questions than answers about his best backline.

"I think what it has done is we are close to drawing some conclusions on combinations going forward and that is good, healthy competition for places," the coach said.

He was not going to enlighten anyone outside the All Black selection panel any further.

However, MacDonald's kicking and general play will continue his choice at centre and if Mauger makes a successful comeback that is likely to relegate Daniel Carter to the reserves.

That may persuade the panel to continue with a 5/2 forward-backs split given Carter's occasional halfback experience.