Payne praise for ‘powerful’ Williams

IF anyone ever produced perfect timing to silence the doubters it was Nick Williams when he thundered his way through Munster’s Magners League clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons on Sunday.

Williams joined an elite group of back-row forwards when scoring a hat-trick of tries in top class rugby. It was the perfect response to answer the critics, disappointed with the impact the player made since his arrival from New Zealand last year.

Williams was conscious of the pressure himself, admitting relief after his Man-of-the-Match display, and he was thankful for the support of management and squad members through a difficult period.