Williams ready but overlooked by Auckland

By WYNNE GRAY

Lock Ali Williams was the solitary All Black keen to play for Auckland against Northland this weekend, but he has been overlooked.

"Ali spoke to me and said he was ready to go but we will leave him for next week," said coach Pat Lam.

"We have made Sunday the deadline for the All Blacks to tell us when they want to get back into action. Now is not the time, because most of them will have jet-lag and need time with their families."

Two days after returning from South Africa, Williams attended Auckland's training yesterday, where a rejigged side went through patterns at Mt Albert Grammar.

Injured halfback David Gibson and midfielder Iliesa Tanivula have been replaced by Orene Ai'i and second five-eighths Nick Buckley, who will make his debut.

Loosehead prop Soane Tonga'uiha makes way for Nick White, and there has been some juggling with the locks and loose forwards.

Brad Mika, who played No 8 but was affected by gastric flu during the Ranfurly Shield defence against Bay of Plenty, has returned to lock, while Angus Macdonald has shifted to blindside flank and Sione Lauaki shunted to the boot of the scrum.

"It was a shame Brad was crook but we want to continue with the plan because we need to assess guys in various places," Lam said.

Macdonald has been retained as skipper, with Lam commending the 23-year-old for his work and leadership in the loss to the Bay.

It has been a week of dialogue for Macdonald.

At the weekend he made the speech no one prepares for - as the losing skipper in a Ranfurly Shield defence.

A few days later, he and team-mates gathered for what public relations firms like to describe as open and honest discussions about the shield loss.

As the squad examined how to rectify the faults against Northland at Whangarei on Saturday, the coaching staff of Lam, Shane Howarth and Frank Bunce just listened.

"We might have learned more about these players in the last few days than we did in the previous five months," Lam said.

"It was a very positive meeting but it is only good if we go out there and fix it."

Macdonald thought Auckland might have relaxed against the Bay.

"There might have been an element for the young guys that they did not understand the intensity of their first big shield defence. But it was best it happened at this stage of the season," he said.

"Northland up there, they are part of our Blues franchise and they will be wanting to make a point. Our game plan is alright but the small skills, the timing and experience were things which let us down."


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