Rugby: McAlister ruled out, Williams a possibility

Luke McAlister leaves the field with an injury during match against the Chiefs. Photo / Getty Images

The fitness of former All Blacks Ali Williams and Luke McAlister has taken centre stage for the Blues as they sort their resources for the start of the revamped Super 15 series.

Williams has fared better than McAlister. By getting through several trial matches on top of a stint in club rugby in England, he is working his way into shape after losing several seasons to Achilles tendon injuries.

The 61-test lock is available for his side's Saturday start at Eden Park against the Crusaders, but McAlister will miss the match after being knocked out in the last trial match against the Chiefs.

Coach Pat Lam said the inside back was ruled out yesterday from the competition start, but he hoped McAlister would pass psychometric tests to leave with the squad on Sunday for a three-game trip to South Africa and Australia.

So had Williams shown enough in his pre-season play to start on Saturday?

"It is enough to be available for selection," was Lam's ambivalent reply.

"I think coming back to this pace of rugby, he did some things well but he has still got some things to work on. I think the really big one for him is that he is in a really positive frame of mind."

Lam said Williams had overcome the self-doubt which was inevitable after serious injury, and the Blues staff were mindful about getting the best out of him in the extended Super 15 series.

It was a long competition but sometimes last season his squad was guilty of looking too far ahead, Lam said. They had done their planning for this year; the focus was now on the Crusaders and not the three weeks offshore.

The Blues had a surfeit of choices, especially in the backline, but Lam said they would try to keep the players in consistent roles, though that would depend on injury and travel.

Test loosehead prop Tony Woodcock was already up to speed this season, well ahead of his progress last year. He, like his international colleagues, had returned refreshed by the challenge of performing well to prove World Cup credentials.

"They are all keen after that tour, all determined, they are big-game players and already making a difference in the leadership groups," Lam said.

Lam said this year's Blues were the strongest squad he and his colleagues had selected because of the revised contracting system.

So would the coach be better?

Lam said that in taking such a public position he was opening himself up for criticism. But he still wanted the job.

"I remember reading a book by [league coach] Wayne Bennett and he said, 'The moment you start listening to people in the crowd and what they say, you will end up sitting next to them'," said Lam.

He said he was now more at ease in the job. When it was suggested that round one would be a useful time to play the Crusaders - as they would be without their captain Richie McCaw and Sonny Bill Williams - Lam listed some of the Crusaders' other notable assets: Dan Carter, Brad Thorn, Kieran Read, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Adam Whitelock, George Whitelock, Sam Whitelock ...

"Hey, they've got class," Lam said.

"It's a great start to the competition - Eden Park, World Cup final venue.

"It is a great way to start - Dagg, Maitland, they are all coming back into my head, Fruean ..."