Saracens kept Wales in the loop over Liam Williams injury, insists Mark McCall

Saracens coach hits back after Gatland’s claim that winger needed surgery earlier
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Chris Jones25 January 2018

Saracens insist they did not delay sending wing Liam Williams for surgery on the groin injury that is threatening to keep him out of the Six Nations, despite Wales head coach Warren Gatland claiming the player should have had an operation six weeks ago.

Williams was injured playing for Wales against Georgia in November and missed six weeks before returning for Saracens in the 15-15 draw against Ospreys in the European Champions Cup, where the groin problem flared up again.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall has always maintained that surgery is an option for Williams and told Standard Sport that the double European Champions Cup winners had kept all parties involved in the treatment of the Lions wing fully informed of the situation.

McCall said: “When Liam was injured, he went to see a consultant and we had a scan. A joint decision was made between the consultant, the Welsh Rugby Union and ourselves that a conservative approach was the best solution at that point and not surgery. That was a joint decision and that seemed to have gone really well.

“Now he has had a reaction and there is a decision to be made about continuing with the conservative approach or intervene with surgery. It is as straightforward as that.”

McCall’s version of events contrasts sharply with Gatland’s comments at yesterday’s Six Nations launch.

There, the New Zealander said: “There are some differences of opinion in how he [Williams] was treated.

“Liam potentially had the option of surgery before, but that wasn’t taken up. It’s probably an injury that six weeks ago he should have had an operation on it, but Saracens had rehabbed him and he’s come away from the game against the Ospreys feeling very sore. Our medical team had a look and want to rehab him extensively over next couple of weeks.”

Saracens have a well-earned reputation for getting players back into action before their scheduled recovery target and their medical staff are highly rated in the sport. Gatland’s comments appear to be fuelled by the frustration of not having one of the world’s top wings fully fit for the championship, which gets under way on Saturday week.

McCall will also be desperate to have a fully-fit Williams back to keep the club’s Premiership campaign on track and for their tricky Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster in Dublin at the end of March.

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