Shane Williams: 'I am fully confident that Wales can beat Scotland at Murrayfield'
Shane Williams believes Wales have the strength in depth to cope with their current injury crisis and challenge at the top end of the Guinness Six Nations table this year.
George North, Hallam Amos, Johnny Williams, Tomos Williams and Dan Lydiate are all missing for the trip to Scotland on Saturday having started against Ireland last weekend.
Further injuries to Josh Macleod and Josh Navidi, as well as the ongoing recovery of Jonathan Davies and the suspension of Josh Adams, only add to the headache for head coach Wayne Pivac, with Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, Liam Williams, Gareth Davies and Aaron Wainwright coming into the side.
You can bring all three but can you start all three?
Highly unlikely. https://t.co/TQdHa9DMxX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 11, 2021
Former wing Williams, his country’s record tryscorer with 58 from 87 caps, is confident Wales still have enough quality in their ranks to overcome Gregor Townsend’s men, but he expressed particular sympathy for Lydiate, who suffered a knee injury early on in the victory over Ireland – his first international appearance in more than two years.
“It’s tough,” Williams told the PA news agency. “These players are key, of course, but you do have someone like Liam Williams coming back into the fold, you have Nick Tompkins as well, and we’ve an abundance of scrum-halves in Wales at the moment, and back-rowers.
“I’m personally gutted for these boys because there’s some big injuries there as well. For Dan, that could be the last time he plays for Wales and he’s worked really hard to get back there.
“So personally I feel for them, but I have no concerns about the players that we bring in. I think they’ll do a job, they’ll be hungry and they know exactly what they have to do to beat Scotland on the weekend.”
Pivac was under pressure coming into the championship after winning just three of 10 Tests last year – two against Italy and one against Georgia – but former world player of the year Williams saw some signs of improvement against Ireland, who had Peter O’Mahony sent off after 14 minutes.
“Defensively they were far better,” he said. “They were very strong and aggressive in the tackle, there were double hits, there wasn’t that many missed tackles. I know there were a number of tackles missed leading up to the Tadhg Beirne try, but apart from that I thought they looked very organised.
"He could be a special player going forward"
– Willis Halaholo was called up by Wales at the expense of Jamie Roberts #SixNations #SCOvWALhttps://t.co/rytZ1ChINF
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 11, 2021
“Ball in hand, even though they made a couple of mistakes in the breakdown and a couple of handling errors, I think that came because they were trying to play a bit more rugby.
“They were offloading in the tackle, they were offloading before the tackle and there were some lovely passages of play during the game.
“There’s definitely improvement. You’ve got to play particularly well to beat Ireland anyway, whether it’s a 15-man Ireland or a 14-man Ireland. It was a big victory for Wales.”
Wales finished fifth in both the Six Nations and the Autumn Nations Cup in 2020 and now face a Scotland side who are fresh from claiming their first win at Twickenham since 1983.
But Williams believes Pivac will challenge his players to go on and win the championship, with the minimum ambition of achieving a top-two finish.
“I think his mindset would be the top two,” added Williams. “Of course he wants to win the Six Nations, but France are playing particularly well at the moment, England are going to bounce back and be very tough and of course you’ve got Scotland in form at the moment and Ireland that you know are going to up their performance.
“I am fully confident that Wales can beat Scotland at Murrayfield. We’ve got our first game out of the way, hopefully the players are more relaxed and have got confidence. They can do a job, I’ve no doubt.
“It’s a big ask to get in the top two, but I think that’s something Wayne Pivac will try and attempt, and he’s on the way. That will be their mindset moving on now, that they’ve beaten a very good Irish team and that they can win this championship.”
Shane Williams is one of Premier Sports’ leading commentators for its live coverage of Guinness PRO14 games throughout the season and works alongside an experienced Premier Sports talent team in Wales including Ross Harries, Sean Holley, Tom Shanklin, Philippa Tuttiett, Eddie Butler, Wyn Gruffydd and Lauren Jenkins. Premier Sports covers every PRO14 game live. To watch just visit www.premiersports.com.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments