Williams: Back in All Blacks frame
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All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has backed his decision to include veteran lock Ali Williams in New Zealand's 32-man squad to tour Europe.
Williams was part of a disappointing Super Rugby campaign with the Blues earlier in the season and picked up a serious knee injury during the All Blacks' June Test series against Ireland.
The 31-year-old, who is the second-most capped lock in All Blacks history, also had a quiet performance in Auckland's ITM Cup final loss to Canterbury. But Hansen defended the player's inclusion.
"It came down to the same conclusions that we came down to in June - that we have a 75 Test veteran,' said Hansen.
"Yes, he has not played a lot of rugby because of injury but we know he has got the mental capacity to do the job on the field.
"He brings with him a huge amount of experience, to which we know he is good at assisting the young guys and Brodie Retallick and Luke Romano will benefit from that."
Hansen added that Williams was a unanimous choice among the three selectors.
"Mentally he's in great shape, probably the best shape I've seen him. There's a huge amount of desire to prove that he's worthy of still being there," said Hansen.
"That was enough to select him because an Ali Williams when he's playing well is an asset.
"It would appear that he hasn't played a lot of rugby and that's a fact, he hasn't and he's probably a little rusty.
"But that doesn't take away from the fact he's a proven international, he's been world class and mentally we know he can cope."
The first Test against Scotland on November 11 falls nearly 10 years to the day since Williams made his Test debut against England at Twickenham.
Comments
Carpelone says...
@ APV1
Yes, I am concerned too.
I would love to discuss about rugby (and to s@-$t steering bit to be honest) but it is quite impossible now.
I appreciated ferdie's answer, which was factual and interesting.
By the way, if fit, I think that Williams is the best in NZ, by far.
Posted 21:40 01st November 2012
APV1 says...
Is anyone else concerned about the "50 Shades" turn this thread has taken? We've got JayStarr swinging both ways, admack spanking everyone and ruckingkiwi going on about domination...
Worrying times folks!
Posted 16:04 01st November 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Trinats2 , two Australian born players.. about the same as you'll find in the Aussie team
Posted 00:31 01st November 2012
nzmaoriboy says...
@trinats..Lets see off the top of my head! & good on the NZ-oz contingent they made your national side imminently more competitive. Devine made our team average
Aussie AB's=Devine
Nz Wallabies=Blake,o'connor,Manu,Willie O,Harris,Mumm,P Cowan,ioane,Temani,Vuna,Tomane,paul,kepu,
Posted 00:24 01st November 2012
Trinats2 says...
LeftRightOut:
So much so, it's spilling back now !!! How many Aussies in the ABs now ?
Posted 08:31 31st October 2012
nzmaoriboy says...
@LeftRightOut.. Frickn funny bro! spilled my tea on the laptop..ohhh... the mrs laptop
Posted 06:17 31st October 2012
nzmaoriboy says...
Williams I believe is in a holding Pattern for Anthony Boric! If Boric manages to get over his injury problems and is proven healthy through the course of the next super rugby campaign! Then Ali will be gone-burgers..Boric is pretty much (when healthy) the best complimentary (nice word for 3rd lock) in the country! big motor,Speedy,good in the air,& sound defensively. Williams was great once! but the game has changed a lot from 2009 when he was one of the worlds best..He is their solely to mentor our 2 new locks Brodie & Romano.
Posted 03:31 31st October 2012
LeftRightOut says...
@ Trinats2 - lol, NZ have so much depth it spills over to OZ!
Posted 02:35 31st October 2012
sukkadoits says...
He just didn't want to hire a specialist line-out coach, just included him in the team budget instead
Posted 00:17 31st October 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
That's why our men dominate your boys Carpelone.
As for the ABs a predictable and possibly boring selection but hard to argue against in almost every case (Wiliams, Weepu being the obvious) but how good are talents like Ardie Savea, Charles Piutau, Francis Saili, Lolagi Visini, Dominic Bird etc, all around 20, I cannot remember NZ rugby having so much talent.
And a mention for the East Coast Wanganui game, one of the best of the season and probably the most exciting since Ireland test 2, which was the best any team played against the ABs this year.
Posted 19:25 30th October 2012
Isograford says...
Yes that 'experience' was there for all to see in the second test against Ireland when he came on, gave away a penalty, and then proceeded to cost the AB's ten metres when he backchatted the Ref when the game was in the balance.
Ali was one of the top locks in the World before his injury, but hasn't played a good game since, he's kidding himself if he thinks he deserves to be there.
Posted 18:06 30th October 2012
ferdie says...
Carpelone's Old Blacks
for sure; 12 aged under 25, 11 are 25-29, 9 are 30+.
A reasonable balance I thought, 11 of them 10 caps or less. It is not, after all, the Junior All Blacks squad.
Posted 13:55 30th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
Building towards 2015 ???
NZ have no depth !!!
Posted 13:08 30th October 2012
ferdie says...
people forget so quickly, or more likely don't know at all and just jump in with the 'dump him/too old stuff' - just last year he played in all 12 tests for the All Blacks, incl the RWC semi and final. Huge exp and even when injured after his two tests v Ireland (just 4 months ago) continued involvement with the squad - Retallick (10 caps) and Romano (8 caps) are next generation for sure and this may be his last tour, but I don't rate him as 'past it' based on injuries in last few months.
Posted 13:00 30th October 2012
admack says...
plus he is going to be playing in a team thats is going to spank everyone in the november tests regardless of whether a 2nd row is old....
Posted 12:46 30th October 2012
bk47 says...
@Bones7
Jason Eaton would be the only one currently in NZ that could step in. Hes got Abs experience and while he has lost a yard or 2 in pace, so has Ali and at least Eaton has form behind him with the naki in ITM Cup.
I would say Craig clarke could easily step up but he has had a long season and looked buggered after ITM cup
Posted 12:18 30th October 2012
Carpelone says...
He fits well in the Old Black set-up.
Posted 11:39 30th October 2012
JayStarr says...
Don't get me wrong - I have nothing against older players... I can't stand it when people become age-ist and want players replaced just because they are "old"... As far as I'm concerned, if you're still good enough at 38 you should be picked. But it swings both ways - I also can't stand it when coaches want players in their teams just because they are "experienced". PICK THE BEST PLAYERS REGARDLESS OF HOW OLD THEY ARE. That's all.
Posted 11:06 30th October 2012
JayStarr says...
Glad to see Heineke Meyer is not the only coach to have brain farts...
Ali Williams used to be a great player. But since his last achilles injury he has not had ONE good game! In fact, he was down right poor for the Blues - he didn't even deserve to be in their starting line-up...
So my question is the same as for guys like Morné Steyn: On grounds of WHAT are they in the team? And my answer is: Past performances. And that is WRONG, no matter which way you look at it.
I think WAY too much emphasis has been put on "experience" over the last few years... I think the Super Rugby champion Reds team of 2011 and the Western Province Currie Cup champion team of 2012 proved that well-coached young guys can do anything "experienced" players can do - just with more enthusiasm and attitude.
Guys like Ali Williams and Morné Steyn should not be in their national squads - there were more than enough young, talented, hungry players in their positions who played far better than them this season.
Posted 11:02 30th October 2012
Bones7 says...
I don't think you can comlain about Williams inclusion. Nobody else at this stage really jumps out as an alternative, although correct me if I'm wrong, and he has proven himself time and time again to be a world class forward.
Posted 09:04 30th October 2012