All Black lock sent home in disgrace

FLAMBOYANT All Black lock Ali Williams has been sent packing in disgrace from South Africa by his Auckland Blues Super 14 team for offences including drinking before matches.

Williams, who has struggled to get a starting place in the Blues this season, will miss this weekend’s Super 14 semi-final against the Sharks and the final if the Blues win in Durban.

Blues chief executive Andy Dalton said the 26-year-old was guilty of a series of offences over recent weeks and the decision to send him home was made by team management and six senior players.

“It’s unfortunately something that has been going on for quite some time,” Dalton said.

“We’re talking about weeks and weeks of a large number of misdemeanours where the guy has let down teammates, and let down himself, and the guys weren’t prepared to put up with it any longer,” Dalton said.

Several late-night drinking sessions in Perth ahead of the Blues’ match against the Western Force on Friday appear to have been the final straw, although Dalton did not go into details.

Williams was also allegedly disrespectful of team mates, with Dalton saying he had been spoken to at least four times but did not improve his behaviour.

The drinking sessions came to light as the team was boarding a plane in Sydney and Williams was told of the decision to send him home when the plane reached South Africa.

All Black coach Graham Henry wouldn’t comment on how the incident would affect Williams’ hopes of adding to his 40 Test appearances against France in June.

All Blacks manager Darren Shand said it was too early to say if any action would be taken.

“It’s probably not appropriate for me to talk about All Black selection at this stage,” Shand told New Zealand television. “We don’t know all the facts.”