Rugby: Winning the mind game puts Ali back in front

Ali Williams is back locking for the Blues, and All Black coach Graham Henry likes what he sees. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Many sportsmen underestimate the power of the mind but Ali Williams embraces it.

He's had plenty of time to think about it - way too long for the 30-year-old and those who saw him churn through his locking work for Auckland, the Blues and 61 tests for the All Blacks.

Achilles tendon operations eliminated him from several seasons, and he had to get his mind around those frustrations and then into his recovery.

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He was shipped off to the UK where his latest comeback started away from the pressures of New Zealand interest in World Cup year.

Right now, Williams is doing well, better than some expected, about what others felt he would achieve if his body stayed intact.

There was a blip when a hamstring went on Super Rugby strike for a month, but Williams has recovered from that and progress has continued.

There was almost a glow in All Black coach Graham Henry's utterances this week as he talked about the choice of four locks for the World Cup.

"He's got a chance," Henry said of Williams.

Earlier he described the lock's recovery and play since as "quite remarkable", an assessment which meant mark the Blues man down for international selection.

Henry liked the lock's increased presence and the way he dominated the lineouts in Timaru against the Crusaders and their test locks Brad Thorn and Sam Whitelock.

"He is making real progress and I hope he continues to do so," Henry said.

Williams is his own man, he likes to interact and be mischievous. He loves being on the front foot in any discussions, which is a pleasant change from the usual interview dross, but he can also be a curly cuss.

He's tried that tack this week and a few other occasions. He is becoming more chipper though, as he knows he is on the verge of an All Black comeback which he can confirm in the Super 15 playoffs.

The prize is close but he is a shade wary - ladders, black cats and all that. It's unsurprising given his previous luck. But he likes his momentum.

"Each week I am getting better, I have got over the mental hump, that was the worst part and I am just playing now and loving it," he said.

"I'm not thinking too far ahead, just that game, that moment.

"The mind is the most powerful thing and that's why most rugby players play well, because they have their minds sorted.

"That was the biggest hurdle for me this season."

His thought patterns got a remedial exam after four matches when he strained a hamstring against the Force. That led to more anxiety but back in Blue once more, Williams has forged on.

He and his mates face a challenge tonight at Eden Park to their mental and physical state.

The last time the Blues reached the playoffs, in 2007, Williams was embroiled in a squabble with coach David Nucifora.

He got to South Africa for the game against the Sharks, but management and senior players decided to punish his disruptive behaviour and send him home.

He was part of the victorious Crusade a year later when he transferred south, but tonight is all about graduation in his traditional colours.

"We don't come to training next week if we lose, it's simple," said Williams.

The Waratahs may have lost some tight five experience to injury but they have a strong lineout with the impressive Sitileki Timani and Pat O'Connor at lock.

"That Timani is massive, a very good ball runner and their lineout is a threat," says Williams. "We have got to do the basics right, get up and compete.

"It is about us nailing our setpiece because it has not been quite as good as we want."

The Blues were coming back to their game and finals were all about collecting the pieces and putting them together. There were a range of factors, from each player's mental attitude to reading the referee (Chris Pollock) and coping with conditions.

"Lots of areas of our game have been all right, but they have not been perfect and 'all right' does not cut it this game," said Williams.

The Tahs had been forced to dip into the reserve lists but those players were usually dangerous because they were never going to hold back.

The Waratahs were strong defensively, they knew how to play in all conditions and had settled early into Auckland.

Kurtley Beale would be a threat whatever position he filled, especially in broken play.

"He has been one of the outstanding players in the Super 15 this year, and if we are not on our match we will get hurt."

Williams skirted assessments on his own play, though he agreed his enjoyment and output were becoming more aligned.

"The key is that I am enjoying it. I do not have any hesitation any more and I am just working on simple things. Those are the things people need and that is what I am doing and I love it.

"People do not understand that if you are carrying baggage into things, it hinders your performance.

"People can do that with an injury or through being unsure what the team structure is, whether you are going to be picked or whether you are fitting into the team or not.

"If those areas are sorted, individuals and the team perform much better."