Blues management have dismissed Ali Williams' (above) spin on why he was dropped. Photo / Dean Purcell
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Any ideas Ali Williams has that he's in Auckland and not Durban for selectorial reasons were dispelled by Blues management last night.
The All Black lock suggested on Wednesday that as he had been replaced in the Blues squad for Sunday's Super 14 semifinal against the Sharks, another
player was required to provide locking cover.
As it happened, that player, Anthony Boric is not in the Blues 22 named last night for the match.
Blues manager Ant Strachan insisted Williams' breaking of team protocols was the reason he was sent back to Auckland this week upon arriving in South Africa.
Told Williams had intimated disciplinary reasons weren't the core issue, Strachan said: "That's not the case.
"It's simple. We have very strong internal standards and protocols. A number of those have been broken and therefore the team itself - a number of the team - have decided that he wasn't to be included in this week's team."
Asked specifically if Williams was in Auckland for disciplinary rather than selectorial reasons, Strachan said: "That's correct." Asked if any other Blues players had been disciplined as a result of drinking incidents last week in Australia, Strachan said: "No, not to this point."
Pressed, he added: "No, I'm not going to deal with any of that at this point. We've dealt with Ali's situation and now we're focusing on the game this week."
Would Williams be considered for next week's final, if the Blues beat the Sharks? "That decision will be made at a later date," Strachan said.
Coach David Nucifora insisted the Williams situation had not affected the team's preparation for the semifinal.
"It hasn't been an issue here for us. Here, it's just been about the game, it hasn't been a distraction at all."
The Blues have made one personnel change, which doubled as a positional alteration from the side which thumped the Force 33-6 last Friday.
Isaia Toeava, the boom centre in the Super 14, has moved in to second five-eighths to replace the injured Luke McAlister, opening a place for Anthony Tuitavake at centre. Nucifora rates Toeava's long kicking game, which ensured his selection alongside Isa Nacewa at No 10. There's still no place for All Black wing Joe Rokocoko in the 22.
For full coverage and reaction from the Super 14 semifinals on Sunday go to
nzherald.co.nz
