All Blacks hard man Tamaiti Williams says chances in the famed black jersey don’t wait around.
The 25-year-old made his debut in 2023 during New Zealand’s run-up to the World Cup, and he’s impressed ever since.
The Crusaders prop says the biggest lesson he’s taken into the next chapter of his career is understanding how quickly things can change, and how important it is to be ready when the moment arrives.
“One thing I’ve learned is when you get an opportunity you’ve got to take it,” Williams told The New Zealand Herald. “I’ve got it right at times but I’ve also got it wrong. I’ve taken a lot of growth out of that.”
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Now settled at loosehead, Williams believes his game is still evolving as the demands on modern props continue to shift.
“I feel like my game is evolving,” he said. “Earlier in my career, I played loosehead and tighthead, but I’m at loosehead at the moment.
“The demand on the prop nowadays to 20 years ago is a lot different. The way we want to play the game is a lot different.”
That evolution has come with challenges – some expected, others not.
“I’ve been challenged in ways that caught me off guard,” Williams admitted. “There have been some big moments in games, like the scrum against England, and also how I can help people around me so I’m still developing.”
ALSO: Springboks 2026 schedule
Williams will get to test his mettle against the Springbok scrum, which is widely regarded as the best in the world, during the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour which includes four Tests and matches against URC teams between August and September.
Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
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