Relief over Shane’s dead leg

Apr 27 2008 Wales On Sunday

WARREN GATLAND will be breathing a sigh of relief today following an injury-scare to Grand Slam star Shane Williams.

The pocket rocket winger went down after taking a knock during Ospreys’ 16-3 victory over the Dragons in the Magners League at the Liberty Stadium on Friday night.

Williams, whose sensational tries against Scotland, Ireland and France were crucial to Wales being crowned Six Nations kings last month, limped off at the half-hour mark.

His departure would have alarmed Wales coach Gatland, who has concerns about the ankle problem which has sidelined centre Gavin Henson for three weeks and the groin surgery which is expected to sideline winger Mark Jones for a month.

Scarlets speedster Jones is almost certainly out of the battle of hemispheres – European champions Wales going head-to-head with World Cup holders South Africa in back-to-back Tests in June – and Gatland can ill-afford to be without Williams, Henson, or both for the trip to the republic.

Ospreys assistant coach Sean Holley insisted Williams, whose right thigh was heavily strapped, had suffered a minor injury.

“It’s not serious. It’s a dead leg. He’ll be off his feet for most of the week because these things take a little time to heal, but hopefully he’ll be available to play for us next weekend,” he said.

Magners title-holders Ospreys’ unconvincing victory over the Dragons put them 10 points ahead of the struggling Gwent region in the league table with three fixtures remaining.

“Perhaps it wasn’t quite the performance we were looking for, it was frustrating at times, but we’re delighted to come away with the win and not concede any tries,” said Holley.

Dragons battled hard and there was good news afterwards when centre Rhodri Gomer Davies was given the all-clear after being stretchered off amid concerns he had suffered a serious neck injury.

But coach Paul Turner was furious with Welsh referee Tim Hayes’ handling of a boring encounter.

And the former Wales outside-half could be in hot water with WRU chiefs under their code of conduct for rushing on the pitch at the end in an attempt to remonstrate with Hayes.

Turner was incensed Hayes and his two touch judges had missed a blatant forward pass in the movement that saw Aled Brew score to ensure victory and deprive the Dragons of a losing bonus point.

“I’m not happy. I was just trying to ask about the forward pass,” bristled Turner.

“He has got a job to do and should be accountable, like me. Robert Yeman (WRU referees’ chief) told me that fe felt for us.”

Defeat means Dragons’ chance of claiming an automatic place in next season’s Heineken Cup look impossible.

Worryingly, Dragons are only a point ahead of Ulster and five in front of bottom of the table Irish minnows Connacht.

If they are overhauled by both, they will miss out on a June play-off with the third-placed finishers in the Italian Championship for the final place in next season’s Heineken Cup.

“It’s our goal to qualify, but we have blown our chance of qualifying automatically as third-placed Welsh region,” said Turner.