Wales v Australia: Last hurrah for Wales great Shane
- Published
Shane Williams will quit Test rugby againt Australia on Saturday to praise from such rugby luminaries as Barry John, Graham Henry and Bryan Habana.
Welsh 1970s legend John topped off the tributes by declaring diminutive Williams as the last of his kind, external.
World Cup-winning New Zealand coach Henry stated the wing has been Wales' best player, external for some time.
And Springbok Bryan Habana says his erstwhile rival will be remembered as one of the world's greats, external.
However, Williams says he will not allow emotions surrounding his final Wales appearance to distract them from their main objective of beating Australia.
The 34-year-old wing will bow out at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday after winning his 87th cap.
Williams is braced for an emotional Test send-off but wants a winning one.
"It is not Shane Williams versus Australia, it's Wales versus Australia, external and I don't want the fact it is my final game to cloud that," he said.
"We are mature enough to know what we have got to do on Saturday.
"It's all about playing well, me personally and as a collective. It's about getting things right on the field and winning the game.
"We want to show we have moved on from the World Cup, external and beating Australia would be nice."
It is more than 11 years since Williams made his Test debut, against France in the opening match of the 2000 Six Nations.
In that time the Ospreys star has scored a Wales record 57 tries, played in three World Cup campaigns and toured twice with the British and Irish Lions.
Wales coach Warren Gatland paid tribute to the Amman Valley product, external: "He will leave a huge hole, he is our record try-scorer.
"It's a great opportunity on Saturday for someone to determine his own destiny and say 'this is my last Test'.
"It gives us a chance to give him a send-off as a team and for the Welsh public to see him play at the Millennium Stadium for the last time.
"It will be fantastic for him to lead the team out and get the standing ovation he deserves, and for the boys to do his last game for Wales justice by playing well.
"We know Australia will be tough this weekend. In the game against the Barbarians [last Saturday] they made a very slow start, but as game went on they looked very strong."
Team details:
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); George North (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Lloyd Williams (Blues); Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Blues), Bradley Davies (Blues), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), Sam Warburton (Blues, capt), Toby Faletau (Dragons).
Replacements: Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Alex Cuthbert (Blues).
Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs); Lachie Turner (NSW Waratahs), Anthony Fainga'a (Queensland Reds), Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs), Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds); James O'Connor (Melbourne Rebels), Will Genia (Queensland Reds); James Slipper (Queensland Reds), Tatafu Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs), Salesi Ma'afu (Western Force), James Horwill (Queensland Reds, capt), Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds), Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds), David Pocock (Western Force), Ben McCalman (Western Force).
Replacements: Stephen Moore (Brumbies), Ben Alexander (Brumbies), Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), Radike Samo (Queensland Reds), Ben Lucas (Queensland Reds), Ben Tapuai (Queensland Reds), Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels).
- Published3 December 2011
- Published1 December 2011
- Published2 December 2011