Henry holds out hope for Williams
Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:44
All Blacks coach Graham Henry remained positive that veteran lock forward Ali Williams will make a return to the playing field "sometime this year", despite what has been described as a season-ending injury.
Williams's attempt at a comeback from serious injury setbacks in 2009 lasted just four minutes - before he was stretchered off in a pre-season game against the Chiefs in Albany on Friday.
The Blues medical staff confirmed that Williams ruptured his Achilles tendon and has been ruled out for the entire Super 14 season. He will be sidelined for at least six months and the 28-year-old second row forward may even be sidelined for the entire year.
However, the All Black coach, speaking to ONE Sport about Williams' latest injury setback, said he is holding out hope of a speedy return for the 61-Test veteran.
Williams will undergo surgery early next week to repair the damage to the troubling Achilles tendon, which also required an operation last July and saw him miss the entire 2009 All Blacks campaign.
Henry on Saturday spoke to medical staff about the Achilles injury and later said that things might not be as bad as first thought.
However Henry believes that the latest injury, although devastating for Williams, is not as bad as what happened last year.
"They [the All Black medical staff] think a complete rupture of the tendon is better than a partial tear. The medical people tell me that's easier to deal with than what happened last year," Henry told ONE Sport.
"He's getting operated on Monday and there's a recovery time of around about six months give or take a week here or a week there," Henry said.
"Obviously he is devastated, you can understand that, but he is also a very positive man."
Asked about the possibility of Williams making a full recovery and playing again, just like flyhalf Dan Carter did when he ruptured his Achilles while playing in France in 2009, Henry remained upbeat.
"I can't think of a case where it hasn't been successful," he said of the possibility of a comeback for the lock.
"This is the first case where it is been redone [injury reoccurred], but not in the same place.
"[Prop] Greg Somerville had the same problem, but he had an infection in his tendon and he was out for nine months.
"It is a difficult injury, but Ali is very positive and he is hoping to get back sometime in the year."
Henry scoffed at the suggestion that perhaps Williams had returned to the playing field too soon after last year's Achilles surgery.
"I don't think he came back too soon, it is just one of those things. It was seven months since the surgery - he had plenty of time, he was training well and has been running on it well.
"There is no logic that he should do it again in the first three or four minute of the first pre-season game he is involved in. Nobody can work that out, the surgeon, the trainers or the medical staff.
"I just think we have to be positive and hopefully he'll get a break."
Asked if he was hoping to have Williams back for the All Blacks' assault on the 2011 World Cup on home soil Henry answered in the affirmative.
"We are hoping, he is a world class player. He is a great catalyst in the team, he is an inspiration to others and we are desperate for him to be there."
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