Williams set for emotional swansong
After 86 appearances in an 11-year career at the highest level, having become the third highest try scorer of all time with 59 tries, Shane Williams will bring a glittering Test career to an end on Saturday.
The 34-year-old will be surrounded by an army of friends and family when he makes his international swansong against the Wallabies at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff in what is a re-match of the Bronze Final at this year’s World Cup in New Zealand.
But he does not want the emotion of the occasion to obscure the fact that the most important thing is for Wales to beat the Tri-Nations champions.
“It is not Shane Williams versus Australia, it’s Wales versus Australia, and I don’t want the fact it is my final game to cloud that,” said Williams.
“We want to show we have moved on from the World Cup, and beating Australia would be nice.”
Although he will continue at regional level, Williams will bring the curtain down on a career that has seen him score a Welsh record 57 tries, play in three World Cups and tour twice with the British and Irish Lions on Saturday.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland is fully aware his attacking prowess will be missed.
“He will leave a huge hole, he is our record try-scorer,” explained Gatland. “It gives us a chance to give him a send-off as a team and for the Welsh public to see him play at the Millennium Stadium for the last time.
“It will be fantastic for him to lead the team out and get the standing ovation he deserves, and for the boys to do his last game for Wales justice by playing well,” added the Wales boss.
Gatland’s Australian counterpart, Robbie Deans, is fully aware how the emotion of Williams’ farewell could spur Wales onto victory at the Millennium Stadium.
“We experienced ourselves how powerful the additional motivation of playing for a mate can be, when Sharpie (Nathan Sharpe) had his 100th test in Auckland,” Deans said.
“There was no way any of the other players wanted to let him down. I’ve no doubts that the Welsh lads will be feeling just the same this week as we did in Auckland. Emotion plays a powerful role in competitive sport,” he added.
“Warren (Gatland, Wales coach) will be looking for his group to push on from the World Cup,” said Deans. “And this match provides him with a perfect opportunity to do just that as a springboard heading into the next Six Nations Championship.”
