All Blacks lock Ali Williams talks with his father Rodney. Photo / Brett Phibbs
All Blacks lock Ali Williams kept his composure long enough to get the sideline seal of approval from father Rodney on what was a special rugby occasion for the pair in Scotland yesterday.
Tetraplegic Rodney Williams, who hails from London, is making his first trip back to back
to the United Kingdom since suffering a spinal injury when he fell down stairs nearly 10 years ago.
He sat alongside wife Helen among a group of spectators in wheelchairs given positions close to the Murrayfield sideline to watch New Zealand's 40-0 rugby World Cup win over Scotland.
An emotional Williams joined his parents soon after the fulltime whistle, anxious to hear his father's assessment.
"He said why'd you drop that ball," Williams said.
"He's probably one of my biggest critics but also one of my best friends.
"We're brutally honest with each other, it's one of those relationships that we've got.
"He was rapt, he was stoked, he was very proud of me. So was my mum, she was out of her seat.... I think even the old man got up!"
Also in the crowd was Helen's mother Doreen, who is from the Scottish town of Galashiels.
She had seen her Auckland-born and raised grandson play a test at Twickenham, but not Murrayfield, as he was rested for the test against Scotland on the 2005 Grand Slam tour.
Williams is related to former Scottish halfback Arthur Dorward, who played 15 tests in the 1950s.
Other family in the crowd today were an aunt and cousins, but nothing meant more to Williams than having his father on hand.
Rodney Williams sat on the same touchline where his son won a decent amount of lineout ball and also where he crashed over in the corner for a brilliant try late in the game.
"I caught up with them yesterday and they said 'normally we have really bad seats'," Williams said.
"I ran out there today and the old man and old girl were sitting right in the best seats in the house, I think.
"It was pretty special. I probably got a bit hyped to start with and then settled down and enjoyed it really."
- NZPA
