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'It's good being big': All Blacks to deploy heaviest ever player against Springboks
The Springboks have named an all-time mountainous pack for their second-round Test of The Rugby Championship against the All Blacks. The Kiwis have, in turn, called upon Tamaiti Wiliams; a 22-year-old who will set a record for New Zealand’s heaviest international player when he takes the field in Auckland.
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Williams’ 139kg frame clocks in at 3kg heavier than the previous heaviest player, Neemia Tialata. But the prop’s stature does little to impede his work rate, having played big minutes for the Crusaders all season in Super Rugby Pacific due to the injury toll the team suffered.
Naturally, Williams’ physicality is a huge attribute and one that will be put to the ultimate test on Saturday night when he comes up against the Springboks “bomb squad”. However, It’s the big man’s skillset that makes him unique in the eyes of teammate Codie Taylor.
“I don’t think I’ve seen someone with that stature and skillset in the world around his ability to play with the ball, explosiveness and footwork for a big man,” Taylor told reporters ahead of the Springboks Test.
“I’ve always joked that he should go to the NFL and have a crack because I reckon he would go all right.”
While the scales offer an impressive figure, it’s a whole ten kilograms lighter than Williams has been previously in his young professional rugby career. Under the guidance of Scott Robertson and company in the Crusaders environment, Williams has put in the work to get himself in the best shape of his career.
It’s an achievement that “doesn’t just happen”, Taylor has witnessed first-hand the young prop’s work ethic and progression from a 20 minutes per game player to one that can go 70 minutes deep into a Super Rugby final and have the legs to make big plays throughout.
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Now, on the cusp of achieving his dream and taking the field for the All Blacks, Williams reflects on his journey to date with pride and a straightforward mentality.
“It’s good being big,” he said. “But, if you’re big and you can’t get a run then you can’t do anything.
“So for me, it’s just getting more involvement in the game and being big. So, if I can get my hands on the ball more then I have to be fitter so it’s just balancing it out.”
Fond memories of watching the All Blacks and Springboks clash growing up are highlighted by the “big hits”, an area of the game that the kid from the far north of New Zealand is hoping to lending his shoulder to.
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“I just love the physicality you see on TV when the All Blacks and Springboks meet. It’s something I’m looking forward to.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
2 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
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