Biography

Ali is one of those gifted people who might have made it big in a number of sports. His natural athleticism saw him represent Auckland as a youngster in soccer, tennis and cricket before he committed himself to rugby during 1999 in his last year at Kings College. From then things happened quickly for the classy lineout jumper and fearless defender.

He spent time with the Auckland Rugby Academy before Wayne Pivac plucked him from club competition to make his provincial debut in 2001. The next year he was picked for the Blues and a few months later found himself in a Black jersey on the All Blacks 2002 tour of England, France and Wales. He was 21.

It was almost too good to be true. Disappointment and injury followed. The All Blacks lost in the semi-final at the World Cup in 2003 and a cracked bone in Ali’s foot meant he struggled for full fitness during 2004. He sees losing his place in the test team as something of a blessing. “You realise what you had. Losing it makes you go that bit extra to get it back.”

Ali has improved his scrummaging and enjoys the grit and hard work involved in such a physical contest. “That’s where the locks are meant to be, rather than doing the flash stuff,” he says, though he’s no mean runner having scored his first try for Auckland after a 30 metre sprint and his third from halfway.

And who could forget his artful spur-of-the-moment punt into the waiting arms of Doug Howlett for the second of the winger’s three tries in the Tri-Nations decider against the Wallabies in September? Assistant coach Steve Hansen noted it was no fluke, that Williams was “putting his hand up and showing a full range of skills”. Hansen also revealed the faith coach Graham Henry had in Williams when the lock’s form was below par. At one point during 2004, said Hansen, the boss was the only one pushing for Williams’ reselection.

His ambition is not about Grand Slams or World Cups but something closer to home: “I want to reach the potential of my personal capabilities, be as good as I can be. I think I’m far from that yet.”

When he’s not training or playing you may find him out on the Hauraki Gulf, where he goes fishing with younger brother, Jay, to get away from it all.

He studied business at AUT before rugby took over and plans to return to it.

Ali’s Best Moments in Rugby

1. His first test match, against England at Twickenham. Even though the All Blacks lost narrowly, he impressed one of the game’s icons. “Martin Johnson gave me his jersey and wished me good luck. That was very special coming from someone like him.”

2. Beating the Lions in the first test last year, particularly the way it was done, out-muscling, out-smarting and overwhelming their much-vaunted forward pack. It was satisfying, says Ali, to silence their notoriously lippy forwards.

PERSONAL STATISTICS

Born: 30/4/1981, Auckland
Physical: 2.02m 112kg
Educated at: Kings College
Team Position: Lock
Super 14 team: Crusaders, Blues
NPC Team: Tasman, Auckland
Test Debut: 9/11/2002

GAME STATISTICS

Team	Period	Games	Tries
All Blacks	02-08	60	7
Crusaders	08	15	3
Blues	02-07, 09	53	1
Auckland	01-07	31	4
World Cup	03, 07	8	2

ALL BLACKS 2008
Iveco Series 2008

Date	Game	Venue	Result
07 Jun	All Blacks v Ireland	Wellington	21-11 NZ
14 Jun	All Blacks v England	Auckland	37-20 NZ
21 Jun	All Blacks v England	Christchurch	44-12 NZ
3 Sep	All Blacks v Samoa	New Plymouth	101-14 NZ

TRI-NATIONS 2008

Date	Game	Venue	Result
05 Jul	New Zealand v South Africa	Wellington	19-8 NZ
12 Jul	New Zealand v South Africa	Dunedin	28-30 SA
20 Jul	Australia v South Africa	Perth	16-9 AU
26 Jul	Australia v New Zealand	Sydney	34-19 AU
02 Aug	New Zealand v Australia	Auckland	39-10 NZ
17 Aug	South Africa v New Zealand	Cape Town	0-19 NZ
24 Aug	South Africa v Australia	Durban, SA	15-27 AU
31 Aug	South Africa v Australia	Johannesburg	53-8 SA
13 Sep	Australia v New Zealand	Brisbane	24-28 NZ

FINAL TRI-NATIONS TABLE

Team	Played	Won	Lost	For	Against	Points	Bonus Points	Total
New Zealand	6	4	2	152	106	16	3	19
Australia	6	3	3	119	163	12	2	14
South Africa	6	2	4	115	117	8	2	10

END OF YEAR TOUR 2008

Date	Game	Venue	Result
01 Nov	New Zealand v Australia	Hong Kong	19-14 NZ
08 Nov	New Zealand v Scotland	Edinburgh	32-6 NZ
15 Nov	New Zealand v Ireland	Dublin	22-3 NZ
18 Nov	New Zealand v Munster	Limerick	18-16 NZ
22 Nov	New Zealand v Wales	Cardiff	29-9 NZ
29 Nov	New Zealand v England	London	32-6 NZ