Rugby: Will Williams of old return to the fray

Ali Williams. Photo / Getty Images

A bit like the Blues, Ali Williams reckons he delivered in patches against the Rebels but knows he has plenty more to give.

His first game back after a six-week lay-off with a hamstring injury contained enough to believe he could surge in the closing stages of the Super season.

He took the first kick-off, stole some lineout ball and, according to the men in the front-row, he made a noticeable contribution in the scrum.

There wasn't much to be seen of the Williams of old - the one collecting cross-kicks on the wing, scything men in half in the tackle or playing with the ball out wide in space.

He'll always be judged against his pre-injury self and until the marauding Williams returns, until the full portfolio is seen, questions will remain about how far has recovered.

But Williams knows the dangers of trying to do much just yet. For now, his goals are to focus on the tight chores of his game; get those right and build from there. Which is why he was moderately pleased with his effort against the Rebels.

"I was a six out of 10," he says. "Set piece was probably quite good. Scrums were quite good but it wasn't quite a true contest with all the disruptions; and lineout was good. But, around the track, I have got to keep sharpening that up and defensively I have to get the physicality back.

"You can run all day by yourself but you need to run to get into the right position. The tighter I get the better."

Williams and the Blues know that the next four weeks will have a massive bearing on their season. He'll face a bigger challenge this Friday in Dunedin when he comes up against the Highlanders. Whatever combination they pick from Jarred Hoeata, Tom Donnelly and Josh Bekhuis, it will be a tough night for Williams.

The Highlanders have been disciplined and accurate at both scrum and lineout and have raised their physical presence and organisation at the breakdown. They have also become an 80-minute team as opposed to the 65-minute team they were last year - which means the Blues can't afford to drift mentally as they have done in the past two weeks against the Waratahs and Rebels.

Coach Pat Lam will find out tomorrow which of his walking wounded will be available. Tony Woodcock, with a damaged foot, is the big concern, but Alby Mathewson was also forced off on Friday night.

The hardest selection of all will be working out whether to revert to the Stephen Brett-Luke McAlister axis at 10 and 12 or retain Benson Stanley at second five after he played so well against the Rebels.

The Highlanders have used Shaun Treeby this year as their go-straight man and his power has taken them over the gain line; setting the scene for their attacking platform. The more bruising defence of Stanley could be preferred, with McAlister slotting in at first five.

He made an immediate impact when he came off the bench with 30 minutes left against the Rebels with his long kicking particularly impressive. His goalkicking is usually that bit more reliable than Brett's and the contest in Dunedin is likely to be tight and tense with points hard to take.

McAlister will no doubt also have to prepare during the week with questions still being asked about whether he has signed with Toulouse or not.

The French club released a statement on their website last Thursday saying they had signed McAlister, Luke Burgess of the Waratahs and also Springbok prop Gurthro Steenkamp.

Yet despite their announcement, McAlister insists no deal has been done. It would not be the first time a French club has prematurely announced a signing, but McAlister could do without the distraction.