Belief the key, says Williams

DESCRIBED by Shaun Edwards as one of the very best players in rugby, league or union, the electrifying Shane Williams says self-belief has been the key factor in Wales’ drive towards a tilt at another Grand Slam against France on Saturday.

Williams’ crucial second-half try was his 11th in eight games, and his strike in the Davin Stand end of Croke Park saw the diminutive winger equal Gareth Thomas’ all time record of 40.

“Winning does help,” says Williams, “and having won the first three gave us momentum coming to Dublin. The self belief is there. Having gone down a couple of points we never gave up and I think that has been the difference in this campaign.

“Games going into the second half have always been close and we just believed in ourselves, kept at it and deservedly won a game we possibly wouldn’t have won a couple of seasons ago. It just goes to show the belief is there and it’s a pleasure to be involved in this set up.”

The Ospreys winger also lauded Wales’ management team of Warren Gatland, Shaun Edwards and Rob Howley who have revived Welsh fortunes in the aftermath of a humiliating World Cup experience. He says the trio have brought a level of “intensity” to training that is replicated on match day.

“With the experience the likes of Warren, Shaun and Robert have, there seems to be that urgency in training and in games and in meetings as well.

“A lot of the work these days is done off the field. But we train very hard — it’s always very physical training and we have quick, one-hour sessions. They get a lot done. The intensity is the highest I have ever worked with.

“I think it reflects on the field. You’ve got to play at this intensity to beat the big sides like Ireland. Today was the most intense match we’ve had so far. To win like that just goes to show we are playing to the 80th minute.”

He added: “We’ve gone from one extreme to the other. It’s a lot to do with the attitude in training, reacting to the coaches and so on. It’s a combined effort. It’s a Welsh thing — going from one extreme to the other and I’ve had my ups and downs. The attitude is certainly tremendous.”

The flying winger turned scrum half following Mike Phillips’ sin-binning and he didn’t look out of place in a position he knows only too well.

“It is a long time since I played scrum half. Unfortunately with Mike going off, I had to fill in there. I enjoyed it — it means I get involved a little bit more. I played nine a way back as a division four or five player — that’s where I started my career, it’s nice really to go back to your roots.”

Williams and his team-mates now return to the Millennium Stadium buoyed by a Triple Crown victory. However, much of the focus this week will be on whether Williams can better Thomas’ record. “It’s great to score a try in Croke Park in the first place. I’m more excited about actually scoring rather more than thinking about the records. It was a game which was very close. We’d come close to scoring but hadn’t; Ireland had come close to scoring but hadn’t. It was a relief to get over that line. In the end it helped us win.

“The record is something I’ll reflect on after the Six Nations; obviously I’d love to break the record. But it’s not a personal game; it’s a team game. Next week is more important than me scoring my 41st try. It’s as simple as that.”