Ali Williams : Everyone wants to beat England

Former All Black Ali Williams has launched an attack on the England Rugby team
saying that everyone wants to beat them and that Twickenham is the worst place
to play.

Williams launched his attack on the 2015 Rugby World Cup hosts England and
the venue for the final Twickenham.

“England are the team everyone wants to beat… it will be a dark day
if they win the Rugby World Cup”, Williams told French paper L’Equipe.

Williams was part of the All Black squad that beat France in the 2011 World
Cup final to seal New Zealand’s second World Cup title.

The second rower who has retired from playing international rugby also berated
the Twickenham crowd by describing it as “vindictive”.

“The English always carry this consciousness of their grand past and would
like to be reminded of their great empire,” Williams told French paper L’Equipe.

“It’s this that explains why all the big rugby nations want with all their
heart to beat them: Australia, France, New Zealand, South Africa. “

“The Welsh hate them and I’m not going to mention the Irish. They create
a consensus against them. The worst defeats are those against the English. Perhaps
because they lack nobility in their victories.”

Williams was also scathing about England Rugby fans by saying that they make
Twickenham the “most hostile stadium” in World Rugby making it worse
than South Africa’s Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria which is renowned for being
the most unfriendly venue for Super Rugby teams.

“It is the most hostile stadium there is,” he continued.

“It’s worse than Pretoria. The atmosphere is vindictive. “

“The supporters sing and applaud when we miss a penalty, and whistle
us if we do something they disapprove of in terms of playing style.”

“If the English, the only team nobody wants to see win, win this World Cup,
it will be a dark day.”

Williams later said on Twitter that his words had been lost in translation
and that “This has been blown up like no tomorrow….I don’t hate anyone.”