Williams Expected To Make First Test

…Ali Williams in action against the Lions last summer…

New Zealand lock Ali Williams is expected to recover from an ankle injury in time for Saturday week’s first Test against Ireland in Hamilton.

The Auckland Blues forward damaged his ankle in training last week and sat out the All Blacks’ first training session of the year at the North Harbour Stadium on Tuesday. New Zealand coach Graham Henry’s only other injury worry is Wellington prop Neemia Tialata (knee ligament).

Both players are expected to be fit for the first of two Test matches against Ireland.

At training, the South African-born Greg Rawlinson and Williams’ fellow Aucklander Troy Flavell filled the second row berths. If Williams recovers, Flavell would seem to be the favourite to partner him against the men in green.

The 29-year-old Flavell, who learnt of his All Blacks’ selection on the radio, has a strong Super 14 season with the Blues to thank for his return to the fold. It has been just under five years since Flavell last lined out for New Zealand (against Australia in September 2001).

In between, he was capped three times by the New Zealand Maori. Also recognised as a talented blindside flanker, Flavell returned to the Blues for the 2006 season after a two-year stint playing in Japan for the Toyota club.