Ali: World Cup is wide open

Disappointing as New Zealand's failure to claim the Investec Tri Nations crown was in Brisbane on Saturday, lock Ali Williams said the reality of the loss was that it demonstrated that no-one could really be regarded as a favourite.

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Rather it demonstrated the reason people played sport. That was because when you went into a contest no-one knew who was going to be the winner.

"It proved out there [in Brisbane] that any team on the day can win. And it also proved to us that there's things we need to work on. To be perfect you need to nail those things both mentally and physically," he said.

It had taken time for the reality that the side had lost the Tri Nations was only sinking in on Monday and the feeling was not at all happy.

The side had been caught out by the ferocity of the Australian assault, although they had talked about expecting it.

"We needed to match it, and better it, but we didn't and we got caught out," he said.

Williams wouldn't be looking back over his shoulder at the past.

"You learn from them, but you move on and harness what is in the future, not the past. I'm bloody excited eh?"

"From a playing point of view it is an opportunity to right two wrongs."

Williams felt he was a different rugby player from that who played in the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups. He didn't think he was as loose, or ran on as much adrenalin.

"I think I'm a bit more methodical around the field, that's probably my age. I just feel I can contribute to the team a lot more on and off the field. I'm excited ," he said.

There were no excuses, it was time to perform, he added.

There was little point comparing the respective squads with that chosen to do the job this year. The fact was, Williams said, that there were great athletes in all the squads, but the 'brutal reality' was that none of those well-equipped sides had won the event.

"To me that brings it down to the mental game which us older guys, and guys who have been there before, have to bring."

Failure to win before had been a tough bullet to swallow but the fact was he was here to try and change that and he was going to do everything to try to win from more situations you've been in

Williams has taken the holistic look at the event as well saying it is an outstanding opportunity to showcase the country.