Rugby: Comical Ali puts a smile on kids' faces

Ali Williams enjoys a game of All Blacks-themed Monopoly with some of his admirers. Photo / Getty Images

It's hard, even with all his foibles, to not like Ali Williams. He's made it especially hard not to in these last few weeks.

For all that he wants the world to believe he's only about easy gags and Spiderman suits, he's started to find it hard to hide his more engaging side. The sensible part of Williams has grown too big to contain and he's even found himself playing the new role of reluctant hero.

He's played a big part in saving jobs at the furniture store of which he's a major shareholder and on Friday, he provided a handful of children with memories that will last a life-time.

Williams is a patron of the Kids Can Charitable Trust which is also the official charity of the All Blacks this year. The All Blacks have launched a Monopoly game, with some of the proceeds going to Kids Can.

At the official launch he stole the show and it wasn't deliberate. His rapport with the schoolchildren there from lower decile schools was natural and unaffected.

Big men like Williams, through their physicality alone, hold a fascination for children. But he had them hooked not just because he was big. He had them squealing with laughter because his interest was genuine.

"About five years ago Doug Howlett and I looked at ways we could individually and collectively give back," says Williams. "We wanted to involve ourselves with kids. This is a huge reason why I stayed in the country and it's a huge reason why I play for the All Blacks. Some of the hardest test matches give you a feeling but this is different - being able to give back to people who are less fortunate than yourself.

"I do enjoy kids. The big thing is they tell it like it is. Not enough of the world does that. The fact they are so young means they also have hopes, dreams and aspirations to be whatever. As you get older those things slowly get crushed as things don't work out or you have failures. But kids ... they always have a smile on their face and when they fall over, they get back up."

What becomes indisputable watching Williams hold court is that he's not interested in recognition. It's not about him. This is not the equivalent of a politician kissing the baby just as the cameras arrive.

If there are doubts about that, if cynics refuse to believe that Williams could be motivated by something so pure, they should hear him out.

"The jersey [All Blacks] has given so much to me. Not just the financial side. It has given me so much as a person. I would consider myself selfish if I didn't give that back to others. The driving reason is that you can't always take, so where I can give, I like to give.

"The more we get to know each other the more there is of me for you guys [media] to get to know. It's not about me and if I was doing it for me, then those wouldn't be the right reasons, which is why I would rather be in the background. I'll do what I can to promote but it is about the kids benefiting."

His devotion and respect for the All Black jersey is as real as he says it is. He has to be taken on his word about that. In November last year, former England coach and now leading player agent, Dick Best, said he knew of several English clubs who were all scrambling down the back of the sofa to fund credible offers for Williams.

There were French clubs, too, most notably Stade Francais who wanted a world class lock and were not going to pass up on the opportunity to snaffle Williams should he become available.

That he didn't become available is something New Zealanders should take the time to fully appreciate. We all know Williams can play - that at his best, he's something special.

What's harder to appreciate is that he gives much more than lineout ball. The All Black coaches have been aware of the other side of Williams for longer than anyone, which is why they made him one of their five leaders last season.

It was a risky but ultimately inspired move. Risky because responsibility was not obviously going to sit neatly on Williams' shoulders. It has, though, and Williams has proven to be a surprisingly good mentor.

Leadership has been the seed from which he has grown and helped grow those around him.

It has also helped create the enigmatic beast he now is, where he can be role model one minute, team clown the next. The hard wiring in Williams won't allow for his notorious Comical Ali alter ego to simply disappear.

He's still there, lurking, but his appearances are fewer, better timed and less likely to cause offence. And it's because he has this complexity to his nature that it's impossible not to like Williams.

The most endearing heroes - James Bond, Indiana Jones, Han Solo - have their flaws. Perfection leaves us cold; it breaks the connection as we can feel no empathy with someone who never puts a foot wrong.

Rugby needs Williams - a polarising character who gets us all talking. The last thing rugby needs is bland heroes and that is certainly not an accusation that could be levelled at Williams.

Everyone who follows rugby has to be careful they don't allow Williams to be one of those players who is derided while he's here and then sorely missed when he's not.

The NZRU know that, which is why they have sanctioned Williams taking a sabbatical, most probably at the end of this year. To keep the 28-year-old in the right physical shape, Williams needs some time off.

"I do know that I am interested in the States," says Williams of his plans on how he will spend his time off. "But I have got to talk to all the right people and put everything in place..

"I want to be that guy that has got his backpack on and my girlfriend with me and travel round and live life as a normal person."

Normality shouldn't be Williams' aspiration. It's the fact that he's anything but that makes him who he is.