Williams named to face Boks
Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:51
On song: All Black lock Ali Williams ready to battle the Boks
All Black coach Graham Henry is gambling on the fitness of lock Ali Williams, naming the veteran forward in the second row of the team to face South Africa in the opening match of the Tri-Nations series in Wellington on Saturday.
Henry said Williams is expected to start the match, in what will be his 50th Test, even though an ankle sprain has kept him from training in the first half of the week.
"Ali is an experienced player and the limited preparation shouldn't be an issue," Henry said, adding: "We just need to get his ankle right first."
The All Black coach said the Tri-Nations opener will be critical to the series.
"South Africa has a very strong team right now and we have a huge challenge in front of us. We'll need a big step up from our performance in the series against England [last month] to be competitive."
Rodney So'oialo, who was named as stand-in captain after Richie McCaw injured his ankle in the second Test against England, will also fulfil the openside role against the Springboks - wearing McCaw's No.7 jersey.
So'oialo's enforced shift from No.8 to the openside flank is one of five changes to the All Black line-up from the side which beat England 44-12 in Christchurch two weeks ago.
The newly-appointed All Black captain will be partnered in the loose forward trio by Jerome Kaino at No.8 - who himself is under a cloud after a recent alcohol related accident - and Adam Thomson on the blindside flank.
Chris Masoe, called in as cover at the weekend, has failed to make the matchday 22.
In other changes, Mils Muliaina is back at fullback, with Leon MacDonald on the bench.
Tony Woodcock also returns to the front row, in the place of Neemia Tialata, after his 80-minute stint in North Harbour club rugby last weekend.
Centre Conrad Smith is also back to partner Hurricanes' teammate Ma' Nonu in the midfield, with equally impressive Richard Kahui dropping out of the matchday 22.
Meanwhile, back-up scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan was only named in the match squad after his disciplinary hearing was concluded on Tuesday.
The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) misconduct hearing dealt with Cowan's recent troubles, after he was arrested at the weekend for the second time in two months - following an alcohol related incident in Invercargill.
The All Black selectors initially left a spot open on the bench, but Cowan's acknowledgement of his alcohol-related problems, and his willingness to seek help convinced the selectors to give him a final warning and one more chance.
He was then named on the bench to face South Africa on Saturday.
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Rodney So'oialo (captain), 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville,
2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Sione Lauaki, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Leon MacDonald.
Date: Saturday, July 5
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Touch judges: Matt Goddard, James Leckie
TMO: George Ayoub
