'When you get to that stage, you're there for a reason' - Williams backs Scarlets
Welsh rugby legend Shane Williams has backed the Scarlets to go all the way in the European Champions Cup ahead of their quarter-final clash with La Rochelle in Llanelli on Friday.
Wayne Pivac’s men qualified for the last eight as the winners of a pool that also featured Toulon, Bath and Benetton, overcoming the French giants at Parc y Scarlets in their final round-robin fixture to clinch top spot.
The Scarlets now welcome another Top 14 side to west Wales, hoping to reach the last four of Europe’s premier rugby competition for the first time since 2007, when they were beaten to a place in the final by Leicester Tigers.
And former Ospreys wing Williams, who won 87 caps for Wales, believes the last remaining Welsh region in the competition could be celebrating at the final in Bilbao in May.
“I think they’ve played good enough rugby to win it,” he told Omnisport
“They’re certainly leading by example in attacking rugby – that’s not just in Wales, that’s throughout Europe.
“They’ve got a home game now against La Rochelle and I think they’ll be very difficult to beat down in Parc y Scarlets.
“And after they’ve won that, then who knows?
“When you get to that stage, you’re there for a reason. It’s because you’re a contender.
“I’d like to think they’re good enough. I don’t think they’re there to make up the numbers and they should have massive confidence going forward.”
… no caption needed!#MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/4Z7GbMH3Cu
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) March 26, 2018
Williams added that Wales’ reliance on a sizeable contingent of Scarlets stars during their Six Nations campaign can only be of benefit to the players on their return to European club rugby.
“When you’re playing for your country, it gives you massive confidence,” he commented. “To go back to your club and continue the rugby, it gives you a boost.
“International rugby is a step up from any other rugby out there, so psychologically, if you know you can do it at senior international level, then going back to your club should be easier. Not that it is, but having that kind of mindset isn’t a bad thing.
“Going back to your club and taking the same attitude and positivity with you can only be a good thing.”
With Rugby World Cup 2019 on the horizon, Shane tackles the best Japan has to offer in his online series Shane Williams: Big In Japan https://www.facebook.com/shanebiginjapan
To discover the wonders of Japan for yourself: http://visitjapan2019.com/ #EndlessDiscovery
Comments on RugbyPass
Interesting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to comments