Ali Williams' season ends before it even begins
As the much anticipated Super 14 kicks into action shortly, the Auckland Blues played a preseason match against the Waikato Chiefs on the weekend. The game was a disaster for the Blues though, as lock Ali Williams limped off after only a few minutes.
Williams ruptured his Achilles tendon after just three minutes on the field, resulting in him heading back to the sidelines for the rest of 2010. It was his first match back after spending most of 2009 out with the exact same injury.
The Achilles was operated on and repaired in June, but the 28 year old will face further surgery next week as it ruptured just below the scar tissue from the previous procedure.
"I knew what it was as soon as it happened," Williams said. "As you would expect I'm absolutely gutted."
All Blacks coach Graham Henry said he was devastated for Williams.
"He's distraught about it," Henry said. "But he's a positive guy and he's already talking about having another crack at it."
Henry phoned the veteran All Black that night, then visited him at his home the next day. He believe that having Williams involved in rugby during his recuperation will help him.
"Having an involvement in the game will be helpful because he wouldn't have played for 18 months and the game moves on," he said.
"It's important to be as current as possible, be on the job and be up to date as much as you can. Some involvement like that will be helpful and I'll certainly try to get him involved in some of the research for the All Blacks as far as the lineout is concerned.
"He's gone through a year without any rugby and worked very hard to come back.
"It's bad enough doing it once but to do it twice is horrendous. But it's a mark of the man that he's very keen to get it right and get back on the rugby field.
"A lot of people would throw their arms up and say 'what's the point?'
"But he is keen to give it his best shot, which he will and hopefully we'll see him at some time during the year."
Time: 0:33
Williams ruptured his Achilles tendon after just three minutes on the field, resulting in him heading back to the sidelines for the rest of 2010. It was his first match back after spending most of 2009 out with the exact same injury.
The Achilles was operated on and repaired in June, but the 28 year old will face further surgery next week as it ruptured just below the scar tissue from the previous procedure.
"I knew what it was as soon as it happened," Williams said. "As you would expect I'm absolutely gutted."
All Blacks coach Graham Henry said he was devastated for Williams.
"He's distraught about it," Henry said. "But he's a positive guy and he's already talking about having another crack at it."
Henry phoned the veteran All Black that night, then visited him at his home the next day. He believe that having Williams involved in rugby during his recuperation will help him.
"Having an involvement in the game will be helpful because he wouldn't have played for 18 months and the game moves on," he said.
"It's important to be as current as possible, be on the job and be up to date as much as you can. Some involvement like that will be helpful and I'll certainly try to get him involved in some of the research for the All Blacks as far as the lineout is concerned.
"He's gone through a year without any rugby and worked very hard to come back.
"It's bad enough doing it once but to do it twice is horrendous. But it's a mark of the man that he's very keen to get it right and get back on the rugby field.
"A lot of people would throw their arms up and say 'what's the point?'
"But he is keen to give it his best shot, which he will and hopefully we'll see him at some time during the year."
Time: 0:33
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19 Comments:
thats annoying... not for us NW FTW!!
By 1st, at February 01, 2010 9:32 pm
shame, it'll ruin his season
By Anonymous, at February 01, 2010 9:35 pm
time and time again... he's like a NZ version of wilko...
By opfazonk, at February 01, 2010 10:46 pm
Never mind, the Super 14 still has it's most entertaing factor.
Cheerleaders and guys pretending to be highlanders in kilts etc. Got to have something to spice it up.
By Anonymous, at February 02, 2010 12:07 am
Man only in New Zealand would a rugby player being injured be breaking news... freaking sweet :)
By ThatDude, at February 02, 2010 1:25 am
Get well Ali - I came back from 3 surgeries after all had seemed lost. Time will heal both wounds.
By Crosser, at February 02, 2010 2:50 am
What the heck is an AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHKilles??
By jm, at February 02, 2010 6:03 am
'shame, it'll ruin his season'
LOL, YOU THINK!?!?
By Anonymous, at February 02, 2010 10:33 am
man, that guy's achilles tendon is his achilles heel.
By Anonymous, at February 02, 2010 11:54 am
I know it's not the forum for this poll, but what's your forecast for the 6N?
By Anonymous, at February 02, 2010 12:41 pm
get well soon ali!!
By luxi, at February 02, 2010 2:33 pm
Unlucky guy. It must have been his worst nightmare.
Out of interest, what's an Arrrrchilles?
By OL, at February 02, 2010 4:40 pm
OL, I think it's the New Zealand version of an Achilles Tendon, according to the New Zealand Medical Institute it's like a normal achilles but better because it's from New Zealand, or so the Kiwi's will tell you ;)
By btesco, at February 02, 2010 10:08 pm
'shame, it'll ruin his season'
+10 stupid points.
Bring on Chris Jack? Let us hope England hasn't fucked up his previous brilliant rugby display.
By Les Bleus, at February 02, 2010 11:03 pm
What a pity.... We hate seeing cheating Kiwi's getting their comeuppance....
By Anonymous, at February 03, 2010 12:00 pm
Damn I feel bad for him :(
By Anonymous, at February 04, 2010 11:25 am
WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU MIX NOAH´S ARC AND HILL BILLY´S? YOU GET ARCHILLY´S lol
By Anonymous, at February 04, 2010 11:51 am
..............oh absolutely hilarious (to the above comment!) ill make sure i place the mouse over 'publish your comment' and position myself carefully so that when i die of laughter from your fantastic joke i.............zzzzzz
By Anonymous, at February 04, 2010 11:59 pm
^^^^^ narcolepsy??
By Anonymous, at February 05, 2010 3:27 am
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