Rugby: Williams says he's far from finished

Injured All Black Ali Williams is hopeful of playing in this year’s Air NZ Cup. Photo / NZPA

Injured All Black Ali Williams has vowed he will came back from his latest rugby injury and is hopeful of playing in this year's Air NZ Cup.

Williams has begun his second lengthy layoff in quick succession after rupturing his Achilles tendon early in a Super 14 pre-season match for the Blues against the Chiefs.

The 61-test lock had been coming back from another Achilles problem that sidelined him for the whole of the All Blacks' test programme last year.

But in response to conjecture over his future in the game, Williams was adamant.

"It's there's no way I'm finished, hell no," he said.

"I'm keen as."

Williams, 28, said he expected to be back on the field in six months and he believed his time out would only add more years at the end of his career.

"As you can see, a lot of people come back and come back better," he said.

"I don't see any issue why I shouldn't come back better and even smarter."

He said he still had plenty of rugby ambitions, including adding to his 71 Super rugby appearances, most of which have been for the Blues.

"And obviously to be part of the All Blacks and that bigger dream, which is a World Cup."

He admitted that the latest setback was frustrating, given that he had had a good off-season.

The injury happened just three minutes after kick-off, when he was running backwards and then forwards, and it felt as if someone had shot him with a shotgun.

"Being me, I turned around to abuse someone and there was no-one there so I knew exactly what had happened."

He said the injury was not related to his previous Achilles problem and, after analysis, medical opinion was that it was something that always likely to happen.

"There was a bone on the tendon and under enough tension it was always going to snap," he said.

"Maybe that's the positive. At least it's happened now, instead of further down the track."

- NZPA