New Zealand Rugby
Williams could be heading overseas
ESPNscrum
September 21, 2010
Blues lock Ali Williams hobbles off with an injury, Blues v Chiefs, Super 14 Pre-season match, North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand, January 29, 2010
Ali Williams is helped from the field after suffering another injury setback © Getty Images
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Ali Williams could yet head overseas in order to bolster his chances of playing in New Zealand's Rugby World Cup campaign next year.

The All Blacks lock is edging ever closer to a return to training after a long spell on the sidelines with an Achilles tendon injury but is unlikely to make his comeback before the end of the ITM Cup season.

Williams wants to be fit and firing for the kick-off of next season's Super Rugby campaign, leaving him with few options other than a short-term deal in Europe in order to get some much-needed game-time. He has not played since his latest setback in a Super 14 warm-up game against the Chiefs in January.

"The purpose for that [going overseas] was to get game time, get rugby, and see if she works. I know in my head it's going to work; it's the power of positive thinking," Williams told TVNZ.

Williams was refreshingly frank in outlining his motives for seeking a possible short-term deal, insisting that he had eyes only for the World Cup - a tournament that he has unhappy memories of after losing efforts in 2003 and 2007.

"I'm first to admit now that's all I'm doing it for," he said. "I just want to put my hands on that thing and win it. I'd go and do something else if I wasn't here to win the World Cup."

© Scrum.com

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