Nick Williams has played last game for Ulster, says Les Kiss

Ulster’s wrecking ball No.8 Nick Williams, who will move to Cardiff next season, has played his last game for the province.

Williams, who has been a major go-forward force for Ulster this season will undergo surgery to repair a labral tear in his right shoulder. It was hoped that a rehabilitation programme would help him back to fitness for the final run-in, but the Ulster medical staff decided that surgery was the best option for the big Samoan’s future.

Williams’ absence will be a big blow to Director of Rugby Les Kiss, who will also be without Tommy Bowe for Saturday’s must-win clash at the Kingspan Stadium with Guinness Pro12 table toppers Leinster.

Kiss was full of praise for Williams, and said it was a delight to coach him since he took over the Ulster reins in November.

“I’ve got to take my hat off to Nicky,” said Kiss. “He had his problems and played through a couple of game, and then we gave it a chance to see if it recovers after a week or two. But it is right for him that he gets it right as well after all at the end of the day it’s about people. It’s not about trying to bash people into the ground. He has been a great servant and I loved coaching Nick. He was one of those infectious players when after working with him you come out with a smile. He was just a quality person and we miss what he brings to the game,” exuded Kiss, who said that Bowe’s problem with the knee he injured during the World Cup was not serious.

“Tommy’s injury is only mild. The doctor will have another look at it and see how it goes for the following week. There is always gong to be some ups and downs with the procedure that he had, so there is no use over-pushing it. He was in a pretty good place last game against Zebre when he scored two tries, so it is more or less a reaction,” said Kiss, who realises all too well that Leinster will provide a major stumbling block in what he sees as the best Pro12 competition since it began.

“It’s probably one of toughest competitions with all the pressures of having to qualify for Europe thrown in. To face Leinster this week just puts the magnifying glass around it. The players they have, the quality particularly with Mike Ross and Cian Healy coming back and the possibility of Sean O’Brien coming back this week, sees them in a very good place. We just do not expect anything else than a massive, massive challenge.

“We’ve got a good preparation week building for what is a classic in our calendar,” he said. “Leinster did well to get their win over Edinburgh last time out. It’s not going to be easy, we know that. At Kingspan last year we did a job on them and it’s up to us to do the same again. there’s no doubt it’s going to be a massive atmosphere and our boys will be up for it,” said Kiss about Leinster who he believes have a very tough defence to break down.

“It’s their doggedness,” he said. “I think every team has plus points and Leinster really scramble well. They able to resource well from their back three, and that is one of their qualities. They are also very good decision makers at the breakdown, and they can fill the line which makes it hard to find space. When they do fill that line with plenty of numbers and they get a bit loose at the breakdown the likes of Richardt Strauss and Josh van der Flier can get on to the ball fairly quickly and in itself that is part of their strength.