Ali Williams added grist to the scrum. Photo / Getty Images
It's not as if Ali Williams played well enough to stop the world from spinning on its axis, but he did grind his way through a convincing 50 minutes at the Stadio Olimpico that suggested there is life yet in the old dog.
Seen largely as a loyalty pick for
this tour - almost a sympathy ticket for a once-great warrior - the pressure has been on Williams to prove that's not the case. And that external heat is nothing compared with his own expectations. Williams, for all his ability to play the clown and appear indifferent to the public mood, has zero desire to be a passenger All Black.
He wants to prove he's in Europe on merit. His journey back to that status began in Rome where he made tackles, cleaned out rucks, carried for direct yards and even stole a lineout for good measure.
He didn't wind the clock back to 2008 and appear to once again be that elastic, rangy super athlete of old. But it was about as good as Williams has delivered all year.
"I thought I did everything I wanted to do," said Williams. "For me I have to keep it simple and then other things will open up. That's all I want to concentrate on - doing my role and I was generally pretty happy.
