No more rumble in the jungle for big Ali

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By stash, 3 Feb 2010 stash is a Roar Pro

Tagged:: Aaron Mauger, Ali Williams, All Blacks, Carl Hayman, Chris Jack, Rugby Union, World Cup

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All Black lock Ali Williams wins the lineout ball ahead of Nathan Sharpe during the Rugby Union Bledisloe Cup Australia v New Zealand rugby test match at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday, August 2, 2008. AAP Image/PHOTOSPORT, Simon Watts

There is plenty of talk about the likes of Carl Hayman, Aaron Mauger, Chris Jack, and even Byron Kelleher and Jerry Collins returning to the shores of New Zealand with ambitions to force their way back into the All Blacksx squad.

Many are expressing alarm about players walking into the squad based purely on historical performance. And the decidedly shaky comeback of Luke McAlister in 2009 reinforces this concern.

What seems certain is that players in the All Blacks jumper need to spend game time in New Zealand rugby environments to stay in touch with the idiosyncrasies of Southern Hemisphere rugby.

Without time on the ground, a gulf appears and the player needs to adjust accordingly, with the result being points or games going against them because of the lack of recent experience.

Lack of experience is something that sits oddly when spoken in the same breath as the name Ali Williams.

The familiar sight of the towering New Zealand lock bursting through defences and going on his renowned rambling, destructive runs into the heart of enemy territory was foreboding to his opponents and inspirational to his followers.

But the rugby gods have given Williams a blow that would cause even the most heartless detractor to wince.

After spending the entire 2009 test season recovering from an Achilles operation, the 61 Test veteran lasted only four minutes in a Super 14 warm up match between the Auckland Blues and Waikato Chiefs.

Williams’ 2010 season was effectively over in seconds.

Williams is expected to be out for six months, by which time the All Blacks season will be underway. He may get a run in at NPC, but the chances of showing enough mettle to rejoin the end of year squad after almost two seasons of being missing in action, is bordering on unlikely.

2009 lock replacement Tom Donnelly debuted well, and Issac Ross was hailed as the find of the year. If they grow into the role in 2010, then it could spell the end of the Ali Williams era.

This is a sobering reality for Henry and the All Blacks as they look towards 2011.

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The Crowd Says (21) | Page 1 of Comments

ohtani's jacket said | February 3rd 2010 @ 2:36am | Report comment

Yeah, Williams is gonna have a serious battle to make the World Cup. I remember Zinzan Brooke and Robin Brooke were both injured during the 1995 Super 10 tournament and while they managed to make it to South Africa they struggled through most of the tournament.

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- stash said | February 3rd 2010 @ 5:32pm | Report comment
  
  exactly, even with a senior player like Ali – they still need solid game time to bring the reflexes up
  
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johnno42 said | February 3rd 2010 @ 5:51am | Report comment

poor buggar is pretty upbeat about his return in six months, and so is henry and mccaw, but after a season on the mend, he lasts 3 minutes and then he’s out with the same injury… you gotta wonder, i guess

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Sam Taulelei said | February 3rd 2010 @ 8:12am | Report comment

Jeez I was really disappointed for Ali when I read the news, I admire the way he approaches the game and his all round footballing skills. I hope that he can come back and still have that edge to his play.

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Bay35Pablo said | February 3rd 2010 @ 8:14am | Report comment

Similarly disappointed. Williams is a great player, and when the Tahs play the Blues or Wobblies play the ABS you want to face the best.

Geez, you’re really slumming it with Donnelly and Ross as back ups. Not!

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- stash said | February 3rd 2010 @ 5:34pm | Report comment
  
  Donnelly seemed to make a real difference with the lineout – or it could have been a collective effort that made it click and just good timing on Donnelly’s side. If Ali came back, you would expect it to be from the bench. Still not a bad impact player if he manages to keep his mojo.
  
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Brett McKay said | February 3rd 2010 @ 8:16am | Report comment

it’s certainly a cruel blow for Williams, you’d hate this to be the end for him..

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Terry Kidd said | February 3rd 2010 @ 9:13am | Report comment

Yeah, I read about the injury and winced for Ali. He is a great player and it is a real shame for him to miss so much footy. Same injury, same achilles …. I wondered if there was a problem with the original operation, or if his re-hab wasn’t quite right, or if it was plain bad luck.

Whatever, it was a cruel blow and the Blues will struggle at lineout time without his presence.

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mattamkII said | February 3rd 2010 @ 12:22pm | Report comment

side point – why would the ABs want Jack or Collins back?

Jack hasnt played a decent game of footy since about 2005 and Jerry has proven time after time he goes missing in big games.

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- ohtani's jacket said | February 3rd 2010 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
  
  The All Blacks won most of their big games when Jerry played. Hell, they won most of their games. 42-6.
  
  Jack struggled for form towards the end of his Test career, but there’s value in having Chris Jack in the Super 14 and ANZC. We’re short on locks and there’s a bench spot available if he’s good enough.
  
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JamesB said | February 3rd 2010 @ 12:38pm | Report comment

At least this injury isn’t 3 months out from the RWC2011. Kelleher & Collins won’t be back and no one is NZ is suggesting they will be. Hayman and Nick Evans are the two players we require, but Evans has said he’s not returning. Mauger will struggle and we have plenty of classy midfield backs.

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AndyS said | February 3rd 2010 @ 3:22pm | Report comment

It is a real shame and you have to feel for him. All we can do is hope that they get it right this time and they take a measured approach to getting him playing again, so he can at least have a fair crack at a RWC berth.

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mattamkII said | February 3rd 2010 @ 5:14pm | Report comment

OJ…you pull out that chestnut any time some says anything about NZ players going missing.

You could say that about just about any AB in history.

Mate, the reality is Jerry Collins was a great great player who went missing in big games…I mean real big games like WC semis and quarters.

I have even seen an interview with him talking about how annoyed he was with himself in 2003 only to repeat this in 2007.

I say again, great player dont get me wrong. The way he and Rodney slowed teams down with driving tackles was amazing to watch….but being him back for a WC? you’d be mad.

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- stash said | February 3rd 2010 @ 5:39pm | Report comment
  
  Collins was showing good form when he threw his hat in – I figured he had burnt out.
  
  He strikes me as a bloke who would miss the hometown – and the exotic experience of offshore living would grow thin.
  
  In this instance I could believe he has a chance of being reinvigorated – the Gerry hits were great for the spectators.
  
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- ohtani's jacket said | February 4th 2010 @ 1:16am | Report comment
  
  Well, he got smashed by Dusautoir in the quarters, but I don’t see the shame in that. In 2003, he was playing No.8 when it was obvious he wasn’t a No.8.
  
  I don’t think he’ll come back and I don’t think Henry would select him. Anyone who was a regular in that All Blacks side from 2005-07 is going to have some talk of a Test recall because it was such a strong All Blacks side.
  
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  - stash said | February 4th 2010 @ 11:09am | Report comment
    
    OJ will we see a shift in who sits as reserves? Traditionally second stringers or emerging talent were the bench warmers. Is there a possibility that NZ could end up with senior players ie Williams, Rodney, Jack, Hayman, Mauger, Collins all running on in the last stanza?
    
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    - ohtani's jacket said | February 4th 2010 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
      
      Of that list, I think Williams and Hayman could be starting players. So’oialo will have to use whatever he has left in the tank to make the World Cup. The problem for Rodney is that he can’t really cover blindside or openside, so if he can’t make the side as the No.8 then it reduces his chances dramatically. You definitely want experience of some sort coming off the bench; the problem is that it’s still two seasons away (even if the World Cup year is a shortened season.)
      
      I imagine we’ll lose a few players from now until the World Cup and have a few injury scares along the way.
      
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- Sam Taulelei said | February 4th 2010 @ 12:03pm | Report comment
  
  Stash
  
  Jerry was actually playing poorly for the Huricanes in the 2008 Super 14 season and admitted it himself that he didn’t warrant selection for the All Blacks on form. He’s also very pragmatic and blunt, about life after rugby and isn’t someone who would hang on just for the sake of it. His candour and honesty is one of the things that endeared him to so many Kiwi fans. I don’t think he will come back, or Kelleher. As for so many other great former All Blacks, their chance at winning a world cup has unfortunately passed them by.
  
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