Williams setting sights on elusive victory over All Blacks

FOR someone of Shane Williams’ deadly finishing ability, one try in six Tests represents a relatively poor return.

But when the opponents in question are New Zealand, it becomes far easier to understand the Welsh wing wizard’s scoring drought.

Williams crossed the All Blacks’ line at the first time of asking in a Wales shirt, touching down during a 2003 World Cup epic that saw New Zealand triumph 53-37.

But the 32-year-old has drawn a blank on four subsequent occasions for Wales, and once as a British and Irish Lion.

So there are few players better placed to understand why New Zealand — especially from a Welsh perspective – are such fearsome rivals.

Williams wins his 66th cap when the well-oiled All Blacks machine rolls into the Millennium Stadium tomorrow, with a Welsh record 46 Test tries behind him.

But one senses he might trade all those scores for one priceless victory over New Zealand – a feat Wales last achieved 56 years ago through the likes of Bleddyn Williams, Ken Jones, Cliff Morgan and Clem Thomas.

“I would love to beat the All Blacks,” he said.

“It is a win that has eluded us for too long, and it is a team I have never beaten.

“For me, this is the game of the autumn series.”

Williams is among 12 survivors in the Wales starting line-up from last year’s Cardiff clash against New Zealand, a game when Wales went from being level after 45 minutes to losing 29-9.

It proved another frustrating afternoon for Williams and company against the men in black, but he firmly believes such a demoralising sequence of defeats — 20 Tests — can be halted.

“We believe we are good enough to beat New Zealand, and now would be a great time to do it,” Williams added.

“Over the years, teams have progressed and got closer to New Zealand and maybe started thinking they can compete and win.

“You give them the utmost respect, but they are beatable. They know that but more importantly, we know that now.

Meanwhile, Richie McCaw has identified the imposing physical presence of juggernaut Wales centre Jamie Roberts as a potential threat to his team.

Roberts, at 6ft 4in tall and almost 17 stone, has emerged during the past year among the most destructive centres in world rugby.

And New Zealand skipper McCaw saw enough of this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour to realise just how influential 22-year-old Roberts can be in the rarefied Test match atmosphere.

“He had a great tour with the Lions,” said McCaw. “He gave them a lot of go-forward against the Springboks. He’s a big man, and someone we will keep an eye on. He was a major part of why the Lions played as well as they did in South Africa.

“Wales have good players, and we realise we are in for a tough match. We would be idiots if we thought it was going to be easy.”