Future bleak for Bryan Williams

Press, 14 November 1977, Page 34

Future bleak for Bryan Williams

From JOHN BROOKS The glamour boy of New Zealand rugby, Bryan Williams, might very well have to end his football career as the result of a grievious injury received in the last few minutes of the first rugby test between the All Blacks and France at Toulouse. Williams suffered an internal dislocation of the left ‘hip and will be on cruches for 45 days. He is cheerful and well at Toulouse Hospital and is expected to rejoin the team at Paris on Thursday.

The original diagnosis of Williams's ailment was a tom groin muscle, but X-ray plates were taken at the insistence of the New Zealand manager (Mr R. M. Don) and the serious injury was discovered.

Williams had an operation soon after his admission to hospital. Doctors described his injury as highly unusual in rugby; they said it was more akin to a ski-ing mishap. The crunch came about three minutes from the end of the test when Williams attempted to drive through two tackles by French backs in a bid to reverse the result of the game. Williams, who is 26, is the record-holder for most tries for New Zealand (61), and is fourth on the list of all-time scorers for the country in international rugby with 367 points. He played 31 tests, equalling the record for a back held by Don Clarke, who was among the spectators at Toulouse. One of his colleagues, Frank Oliver, played out Saturday’s test with two broken ribs. It is unlikely he will be available for the Paris test.

Oliver was injured in the game at Agen but the injury was kept a secret. He was again injured in the early stages of the test, but continued stoically after a pain-kill-ing injection at half-time.

By this time the All Blacks were in dire straits because Brad Johnstone was in trouble from a bruised right hip, and Robbie Stuart was instructed to warm up. However, Stuart was called on 20 minutes later when Gary Knight was hurt so it was fortunate that Johnstone soldiered on.

With Bevan Wilson out of the tour it seems the All Blacks will have to turn yet again to McKechnie as full-back for the Paris test. Mr Don said in response to a question that it would be too late to seek a replacement from New Zealand. Only two matches remain on the tour.