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Subscribe to RSS FeedAli Williams
Date of birth: 30/04/1981
Position: Lock
Test caps: 42
Test Debut: England, 2002
Test Points: 20
Current Club: Auckland Blues
Strengths: Sporting the perfect frame for a lock forward, Williams is one of the best line-out jumpers in the world at present and is especially strong on the opposition throw. But while he performs the traditional lock duties brilliantly, it is his ball skills that are even more surprising he has set up tries for teammates with a cross-field kick and a behind-the-back pass. With his enormous size, Williams is also very useful when it comes to driving forward to set up a field position from which the backs can take advantage.
Weaknesses: His tackling method has been called into question since Sébastien Chabal ran straight over him, smashing Williams' jaw in two places in the process. Missed this year's Tri-Nations as a result and will effectively need another pre-season before the World Cup begins to get back to his best after being one of the 22 reconditioned All Blacks who were withdrawn from the first half of the 2007 Super 14.
Likely headline(s): Ali Wills All Blacks To Victory
Did you know? He spent six weeks on a soup diet after breaking his jaw and lost eight kilograms during his rehabilitation as a result.
