Perspective is something Johnny Williams carries around with him like the boots in his kit bag.
That’s the way it is for a player who was fighting testicular cancer when the last Rugby World Cup was played out. Back then there was almost constant worry and batches of gruelling chemotherapy to be endured.
Eventually, he came through it all to resume his rugby career. Since then, everything is relative.
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But there have been sporting ups and downs, with the credit side of the ledger being Williams’ obvious enjoyment at playing for the Scarlets and breaking into the Wales set-up under Wayne Pivac and the debit side being the injuries that have left him on the sidelines for long periods.
But the big dipper of rugby fortune seems to be on the up for him again.
Indeed, his form was such in a comeback game off the bench against Munster recently that one observer suggested he might be propelled into Wales’ Six Nations squad immediately. The scenario didn’t play out, but with his strong running and ability to beat the first line of defence, the 26-year-old may well be the player most likely to be Warren Gatland’s bolter for the World Cup, the man who comes from outside the squad to claim a place.
Don’t believe it’s been easy in recent months, mind, with Williams recovering from a troublesome lower-leg injury. Initially, he expected to miss just two months; he ended up being off limits for almost half a year, an extended spell which dragged on for so long that he sought help to change his way of thinking. Out went negative thoughts, in came the sunshine of positivity.
“It’s the one or two percents that you don’t think make a difference,” he said. “You really look in and see what you’re doing, rehab and prehab-wise.
“I started to do a lot more outside the club, as well, seeing some psychologists. It’s not therapy but more guidance, working on my mindset within the sport and my personal life.
“From being negative about my calf injury, for example, and having doubts, it was a case of thinking ‘right, I’m going to be positive’. You change the way you think about certain things and actions. It was more like lifestyle guidance.
“Once I had a plan in place and a date to come back, that really helped.”
Williams continued: “I’ve had bigger and nastier injuries. I’ve torn my hamstring off the bone and I’ve dislocated my shoulder. This was just a calf strain but I really struggled to get back fit from it, so mentally it was probably one of the hardest I’ve had to deal with, with the doubts and when I’d play again.
“I was originally meant to be eight weeks out but it ended up being 23 or whatever — a crazy amount.”
His return saw him play a full part in one of the games of the season in the United Rugby Championship, with 13 tries scored as Munster just held off the Scarlets in Cork to win 49-42.
There is a case for suggesting Williams was player of the game after he appeared off the bench for his injured team-mate Johnny McNicholl towards the end of the first quarter. His 14 carries saw him make 96 metres, while there were 11 passes, nine tackles and two clean breaks. Every involvement seemed to have a positive outcome. Anyone wanting to know more about the idea of the impact substitute need look no further than the centre’s effort at Musgrave Park.
“I felt like a rugby player again, whereas when you’re injured for a long time you feel like a professional rehabber,” said Williams. “It was a shame to see Johnny McNicholl, one of my closest mates, come off injured. I ended up getting an hour and a bit. It was just good to be back out there.”
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The five-cap player has ambitions to figure for Wales again and feature at the World Cup, but he isn’t getting carried away by the plaudits that followed his return and says his priority is to avoid injuries and keep delivering for the Scarlets.
The idea of being summoned by Warren Gatland is for others to talk about. “For me, it’s quite premature to speak about that, because I’ve just played one game since returning,” he said.
“I’ve only had an hour on the pitch. I just think it’s a privilege to be training again and I’m just happy to be back in a Scarlets shirt. We’re at the business end of the season and we have the Challenge Cup and a big game this weekend against the Sharks. My head’s fully in that and I want to stay fit, because I’ve been quite injury-prone over the last couple of seasons.”
That said, playing at a first global tournament clearly is on his radar, albeit it’s not dominating his every thought. “It’s a goal to be in the World Cup and it’s a big year, but first things first," said Williams.
“Form for the Scarlets is important. We really have to target the Challenge Cup to turn our season around. We had such a bad start to the year; now we have form and confidence. We want to win every game we have left in the URC and play well. I want to keep working on my game and staying fit and consistent is the main thing, the main message.”
Message received. But the thinking is we’ll be hearing a lot more about Johnny Williams as the rest of the year unfolds.
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