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'I was running during pre-season and knew it just wasn’t right' - Liam Williams on going under the knife
Liam Williams believes a groin operation has finally solved a recurring injury problem that threatened to disrupt his bid to help Saracens win another Premiership and European Champions Cup double and secure a place in the Wales squad for next year’s World Cup in Japan.
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Williams missed 12 weeks of last season after sustaining the injury in Wales’s Autumn test with Georgia and saw a number of experts who tried to get him back into action without the need of surgery. A shoulder injury then made it a first season of real frustration despite the British and Irish Lions star picking up a Premiership winners’ medal with Saracens. He was reduced to the role of spectator at Twickenham as Saracens defeated Exeter 27-10 in the play-off final.
Then, during Saracens pre-season training programme, Williams was struck down by the same groin injury and this time the management teams of Wales, Saracens and the player himself opted for surgery. It has proved to be the right call with Williams signalling his return to action with a 25 minute hat-trick as Saracens defeated newly promoted Bristol 44-23 last weekend. While he admits the total distance covered in scoring those three tries was “only 12 metres”, it was a significant step forward for one of the most exciting attacking talents in European rugby.
During his latest fitness battle Williams has seen his Wales captain Sam Warburton forced to retire due to recurring injuries and Saracens team mate Duncan Taylor ruled out until June by a double knee ligament rupture. There have been other high profile injuries in the opening weeks of the new season and Williams accepts that while the surgery has got him back onto the pitch, nothing can be taken for granted.
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Williams told RugbyPass: “You have to enjoy every minute of what you love doing because you never know when it could be taken away. I started pre-season after taking a couple of weeks off and the groin became a problem again and so I went under the knife. There is a bit of a scar but it’s not a problem and I had the operation exactly eight weeks ago.
“This is what we do as our job on a daily basis – it’s what we have chosen to do in life. I wake up in the morning and love to get into the gym and throw a few weights around and you really do need to live in the moment.
“Operations and injuries mean you just have to work to get back to fitness and there are lots of ups and downs in rugby. Having to do your rehab on your own and not being with the rest of the boys is tough but that’s life. The club have been really helpful and family and friends have been great and it’s about getting your head screwed on and down to that rehab work to get back as soon as possible.
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“The groin injury first happened last year against Georgia and I was out for 12 weeks and then I injured my shoulder which meant I missed the play-off semi-final and final with Sarries. I was running during pre-season and knew it just wasn’t right and so that is why we went for the operation.
“Now, I just want to play and I do not want the same thing to happen again, having missed so much of last season. I haven’t been looking at in terms of “it’s happened now so it’s a year away from the World Cup”. I just want to be available for Saracens and Wales. I would love to win the Premiership and European Champions Cup in the same season and that is what we are working towards. We scraped through the pool stage in Europe last season and Leinster have set the standard for everyone.”
Besides helping Saracens repeat their 2016 Premiership and European double, Williams will also be involved in Wales’s Autumn tests with Scotland, Australia, Tonga and South Africa and the selection battle will be fierce with Josh Adams, Steff Evans, Hallam Amos, Williams, Leigh Halfpenny and George North vying for the back three starting places.
Williams’ next game is against former Gowerton school friend and Wales No10 Dan Biggar and he said “It was great to score the hat-trick against Bristol and it was a case of being in the right place at the right time.
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“I didn’t have to do much for them! I am now really looking forward to playing against Dan (Biggar) at Northampton and having a lager with him after the game. There are no easy games in the Premiership.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
50 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments