Williams working to weave magic

WELSH wizard Shane Williams is ready to weave his magic at Murrayfield tomorrow and leave RBS 6 Nations opponents Scotland spellbound.

Wales have put the emphasis on all-out attack this season, and Williams has vowed to “go looking for work” with Mike Ruddock’s Grand Slam-chasing team once again displaying a ravenous try-hungry appetite.

The last thing Wales want is a laborious set-piece fest after gorging themselves on thrill-a-minute running rugby that has lit up this season’s tournament.

“I will go looking for work, as I’ve done throughout this season, and everyone else will be doing the same. Mike (Ruddock) knows that I don’t like just to play off one position, and I do like looking for work,” added Williams.

“At times, we have played some great rugby, and that is due to the fact the boys aren’t afraid to do it. You play better when you are relaxed, confident and enjoying yourself.”

A Welsh win - they have only achieved victory once in 20 years at Murrayfield - would leave them 80 minutes away from possible Grand Slam glory when Millennium Stadium visitors Ireland come calling next weekend.

As a result, hype and hysteria is escalating in Wales by the minute, a fact reflected by an anticipated 40,000-strong migration of Welsh fans to Scotland this weekend.

Williams though, has also urged a degree of caution, and the statistics support his theory.

Sunday’s clash will be the 30th post-war meeting between Scotland and Wales at Murrayfield, with the Scots winning 17 times and Wales recording 11 victories, while a gripping 2001 encounter ended 28-28.

“Scotland are going to be very forward-orientated.

“They’ve got a good set-piece game, and we are going to be tested there. We have got to nullify that if we want to play some rugby ourselves.”

Wales will be without inspirational captain Gareth Thomas, who broke his thumb during an epic win against France in Paris last time out, and that injury has forced Ruddock to rejig his back-three.

Williams stays on the left-wing, but Kevin Morgan moves to full-back and Cardiff Blues speedster Rhys Williams has been handed the number 14 jersey.

Meanwhile, Scotland coach Matt Williams backed his decision to retain under-fire Dan Parks as stand-off in place of on-form Gordon Ross.

The clamour to bring back the Leeds Tykes player grows by the game but Williams insisted the debate was purely media invention.

“I think this is simply a media story which is mounting pressure on Gordon and Dan and it’s creating a problem which is simply not there.

“We’re making a judgement based on what we’re seeing in training and in international games which are different than at pro-team level. There are different demands and different pressures.”