Williams and Lowry reap rich reward after ditching old allegiances


Williams and Lowry reap rich reward after ditching old allegiances

Author
Message
afromanGT
afromanGT
Legend
Legend (77K reputation)Legend (77K reputation)Legend (77K reputation)Legend (77K reputation)Legend (77K reputation)Legend (77K reputation)Legend (77K reputation)Legend (77K reputation)Legend (77K reputation)Legend (77K reputation)Legend (77K reputation)

Group: Forum Members
Posts: 77K, Visits: 0
Looking at it objectively, wales were never going to the World Cup and Ireland...well, were they really going to cap Lowry?
Joffa
Joffa
Legend
Legend (86K reputation)Legend (86K reputation)Legend (86K reputation)Legend (86K reputation)Legend (86K reputation)Legend (86K reputation)Legend (86K reputation)Legend (86K reputation)Legend (86K reputation)Legend (86K reputation)Legend (86K reputation)

Group: Moderators
Posts: 66K, Visits: 0
Quote:
Williams and Lowry reap rich reward after ditching old allegiances

SEBASTIAN HASSETT
May 12, 2010

THE decision to jump aboard the Australian wagon paid the ultimate dividend for Rhys Williams and Shane Lowry yesterday after the pair were named in Pim Verbeek's provisional squad for South Africa.

Incredibly, less than 12 months ago both players were virtually considered lost causes and thought to be little or no chance of playing for Australia - especially at this year's World Cup.

Williams, born and raised in Perth, was still toying with an offer from Verbeek to part company with Wales, who he represented 10 times at underage level. Lowry, a fellow West Australian, loomed as an even tougher task given he declared his preference to play for Ireland.

However, Verbeek liked what he saw in both players, launching a charm offensive to woo them to the green and gold, a mission that ultimately proved successful.

Asked if the selection was justification for his decision to turn his back on Wales, Williams - who has a northern English accent thanks to his stint with Championship side Middlesbrough - said vindication wasn't on his mind.

''Not really, I've only ever wanted to play for Australia,'' he told the Herald. ''Even if the roles were reversed and Wales were in the World Cup and Australia weren't, I'd still want to play for Australia. I love Australia, I'm Australian, and I just didn't feel comfortable playing for Wales. It just didn't feel safe or right. When I play for Australia, I just feel so proud and I can't wait to put the shirt on.''

Williams has made just three appearances for the Socceroos but is confident he can make the jump from the 30-man squad into the final 23 by the June 1 selection deadline. ''I've cleared the first hurdle and I don't want to stop now. There's a lot of hard work to go,'' he said. ''The New Zealand game is a big game for all of us who are pushing for the 23. It's going to be an exciting time.''

Despite being on Middlesbrough's books since 2005, the 21-year-old has broken into the starting line-up on a regular basis only this year, largely sparked by a dazzling loan spell at Burnley, who went on to win promotion to the Premier League.

''It's been an amazing 18 months. I gained a lot of confidence at Burnley and there was some speculation that I would stay with them but it didn't happen,'' he said. ''So I went back to Middlesbrough, won my spot in central midfield, held on to it and it's all happened from there.''

Williams said he was happy on Teeside for the moment but knows that the World Cup potentially offers him a shop window - just as it did for Luke Wilkshire in 2006. ''It's still small steps at this stage but it is a shop window and a lot of players will use it for a move,'' he said. ''I've signed a long-term contract and I'm happy with Middlesbrough but obviously if a massive club comes along, you're not going to turn it down. You never know what could happen.''

Meanwhile, another Sandgroper, Richard Garcia, is adamant he has overcome a multitude of injury concerns and will be at peak fitness in South Africa after a stop-start season with relegated English Premier League club Hull City.

''I copped a knee injury in pre-season training but I've come back pretty strong and was in fairly decent form for a while,'' he said. ''I broke down again towards the end of the season, but luckily it's nothing major. If anything, it's given me a little break and I'll be fully refreshed and ready to go. It's been a hard season mentally with everything that's been happening with my club, behind the scenes and on the park. That's been tough. But this is the pinnacle of football.''

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/williams-and-lowry-reap-rich-reward-after-ditching-old-allegiances-20100511-uuxj.html

GO


Select a Forum....























Inside Sport


Search