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Williams edges rival to score S14 spot |
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Written by Jamie Troughton
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Friday, 27 October 2006 |
MURRAY Williams has added a new twist to the intriguing Bay of Plenty first-five duel after being selected into the Chiefs for the 2007 Super 14 season. Williams is the only new Steamer to have made the five squads named today. He joins Ben Castle, Simms Davison, Jamie Nutbrown, Anthony Tahana and Tanerau Latimer at the Chiefs, while Nili Latu has been drafted into the Hurricanes.
But Williams had to fight off a strong challenge from his provincial rival Mike Delany to secure a professional contract, with his previous experience in the Chiefs wider training group proving crucial.
``I'm pretty stoked,'' the 24-year-old said. ``Obviously having that experience in the wider training group was pretty beneficial - it also gave me a taste of what I wanted to achieve at the end of this year. Being in that professional environment - it was the first time I haven't had to worry about work and rugby was just my job.'' Chiefs' coach Ian Foster has gone for three first-fives in his squad - Williams joins incumbent Stephen Donald and the drafted Tasesa Lavea (Auckland) but admits the choice between Williams and Delany was an agonising one.
It's understood Delany also went very close to winning a contract with the Hurricanes, who opted at the last minute to go for Southland's Blair Stewart.
``He went very close to selection with us as well,'' Foster admitted. ``It was a very hard decision to make - they've both got strengths and weaknesses but we felt Murray knew what we were trying to do from last year. ``Mike's probably a player that another 12 months of physical development would be good for him.'' Williams, who moved to the Bay from Auckland last year, started the Air New Zealand Cup season as first-choice pivot until poor form saw Delany replace him. It's likely that would have been a permanent switch, until Rotorua-raised Delany injured his leg, opening the door for Williams' revival.
Notable Bay omissions included second-five Cory Aporo, who missed out to the drafted Tane Tu'ipolotu (Manawatu) and also missed a Highlanders berth. Foster defended his decision to take three first-fives and only three specialist midfielders, in Richard Kahui, Niva Ta'auso and Tu'ipolotu, suggesting one of his No 10s could see some play at second-five as a second play-maker. But with Byron Kelleher, Mils Muliaina and Sitiveni Sivivatu all out of the early part of the season with All Black conditioning, Foster hopes his backline will figure itself out. ``With Sitiveni and Mils coming back after six games to give us great depth in the back three, it was important to give us that sort of depth in the midfield and inside backs so that we could figure it out during the campaign.''
For the fourth year in a row, there was no place for outstanding Steamers' lock Mark Sorenson, with Waikato's Toby Lynn preferred. Latimer's selection had the hint of intrigue about it - it's understood the Crusaders fought hard to get him back down to Christchurch and even suggested transferring him to Canterbury and loaning him back to Bay of Plenty for the provincial season. It speaks volumes of how highly the 20-year-old openside flanker is rated by Crusaders maestro Robbie Deans, who is likely to have started Latimer in the absence of Richie McCaw. The Chiefs' squad includes 19 players returning from the 2006 Chiefs campaign, which finished seventh in last season's Super 14.
Lock Keith Robinson returns to the Chiefs squad this year after a two-year injury absence.
He last played for the Chiefs in 2004 against the Brumbies in the Chiefs' first and only Super 12 semifinal.
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