Four games into his refreshed Blues career, lock Ali Williams is facing a spell on the sidelines with an Achilles tendon injury.
His injury has coincided with the Blues' bye this weekend and while there are hopes he will return for the next match against the Lions, that forecast mightbe premature.
Williams missed his squad's promotional day in Whangarei this week to undergo scans which revealed his injury was not as serious as feared when he limped off during the Blues' latest defeat to the Waratahs.
That examination showed the senior All Black had some tendinitis though the advice was that it would repair quickly with some intensive treatment. He was out of his moonboot yesterday and walking pain-free.
"He heard a popping sensation on the field but he has had a scan which showed he had some thickening of the tendon and some splits but he should be fine," team doctor Stephen Kara explained. Williams has had a rough time with injury on his return to the Blues after a year with the Crusaders because he could not get on the same wavelength as former Blues coach David Nucifora.
Rudi Wulf will play club rugby this weekend in his comeback match from a broken arm while Josh Blackie, Justin Collins and Isaia Toeava are all expected to be fit for the Blues' next match on Good Friday.
* The Hurricanes have lost key players Hosea Gear and Scott Waldrom, who will return home from South Africa this week to recover from injuries. Winger Gear suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee during the 38-32 win over the Lions and is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks. Flanker Waldrom suffered an abdominal muscle strain in training and is unlikely to be considered until the Stormers match in Wellington on April 18.
