Slam means more than record to me – Shane

Mar 17 2008 by Blair Wood, Western Mail

WALES’ match-winning idol Shane Williams last night declared the team’s Grand Slam success meant far more to him than his place in the record books as the nation’s leading try scorer.

Williams’ moment of magic against France not only acted as the key turning point in Wales’ crucial victory, but it also established him as the most prolific finisher in the history of our national game.

The fact his record 41st try came against the French also ensured the electrifying winger has scored against every major rugby-playing nation.

But, while he admitted breaking Gareth Thomas’ record was special on a personal level, Williams told the Western Mail that Wales’ collective success as a team meant far more to him.

“The record is great, but it’s just a bonus for me,” he explained. “What we have achieved with this Grand Slam means more than anything.

“And I wouldn’t have got my tries without the other players. Everything we have done has been together as a team and my tries are just a small part of this success.”

Shane continued, “It was a great day out there. What can compare to a Grand Slam?

“The 2005 Slam was special and it’s exactly like that this time round. I’m just so proud of the team.”

With the try record firmly in his grasp, Williams is setting his sights on the monumental tally of 50 tries.

If his performances in this Six Nations are anything to go by, it’s a target that is well within the wing wizard’s reach.

Shane’s six tries in five games have made him a clear favourite for this year’s player of the tournament award, which will be announced this week.

The winger admits he is playing the best rugby of his career at the moment, but is adamant he will get better.

“I believe I am in the best form of my career right at this moment,” he said before joking, “I don’t think I’ve done that badly recently.

“But I’m being rewarded from playing in a good team. Not just with Wales, but with the Ospreys as well.

“I’m enjoying myself out there which is obviously helping my game. I just look to do my best whenever I put on that shirt.”

Williams was also an integral member of Mike Ruddock’s Grand Slam-winning team three years ago. His match-winning try against England set the ball rolling and, with two further tries coming against first Italy and then Scotland, he was joint top scorer for the men in red that campaign.

Success that year was supposed to be the start of the next golden era in Welsh rugby. But, as the history books will show, that wasn’t the case.

The downturn in Welsh fortunes culminated with a disappointingly early exit from last year’s World Cup. But Williams believes that, having shown their true colours under Warren Gatland, Wales have gone a fair way towards redeeming themselves.

The Ospreys man was struggling to come to terms with Wales’ second Grand Slam in four years. But, having explained just how hard Wales worked for their victories, he claimed they were more than deserving winners.

“Considering what happened at the World Cup, you wouldn’t have believed this could happen a few weeks ago,” he said. “But the thing is we deserved it because of the way we played.

“What the players have done this weekend and throughout the tournament is unbelievable. We deserve everything we got.

“The commitment from the guys was just crazy. You wouldn’t believe the effort people put in and we really deserved to win this championship.”

As for how far this Wales team can go under Gatland, Williams was cautiously optimistic. He was quick to point out how exciting things are under the New Zealander’s stewardship, but warned the Welsh public not to get carried away.

With the summer tour to World champions South Africa now on the horizon, Williams knows there is still a fair way to go this season.

He stated, “We can’t get ahead of ourselves. At the end of the day we still have a couple of big games left this season and we’ll have to see what happens in South Africa.

“This has been a great start to time with Warren. It’s a good time to be playing for Wales.

“The Six Nations isn’t the be all and end all. But we’ll see how far this Welsh team can go from here.”

Williams may have been modest about his achievements in recent weeks. But those around him have been far less reserved in their plaudits.

Coaches and team-mates alike have been quick to talk up the diminutive winger. And it seems the general consensus is that Williams is easily one of the best finishers in the game.

“Shane Williams is a match-winner, that’s the only term you can use,” Shaun Edwards said after Saturday’s victory. “He is a predator and he is a joy to coach.

“There are great goalscorers in football who only need a half chance to finish off and I think Shane Williams is the equivalent in the sport of rugby union. He just seems to know how to score tries.

“It’s a great credit to him that he has this record and a fitting reward for what has been a very good championship for him.”

Gatland said, “If any team is going to be successful it needs three or four players that can change a game and do something a bit special. Shane is one of those players.

“He can change a match by beating two or three players on his own and for us it is brilliant to have him in the squad.

“He likes getting his hands on the ball. And, for us as a team, having someone like him is pretty special.

“Not only does he excite the fans, he excites the players and coaches around him. When he gets the ball you feel like something special is going to happen and it’s great to have a player like that.”

Perhaps the most glowing praise came from prop Adam Jones, a player who can only be described as the polar opposite to Williams in terms of style and stature.

Jones claimed that, despite some notable detractors, his Ospreys team-mate should definitely be regarded as the best winger in the history of Welsh rugby.

“Shane is comfortably the best player I have played with,” he said.

“I know the old players like JJ Williams seem to have some reservations, but, in my opinion, Shane is the best winger to play for Wales by a street.”

View images from a glorious Grand Slam weekend click here