Keiran Williams: Ospreys centre has point to prove with Wales

Keiran Williams (right) was involved in Wales' World Cup training camps in Switzerland and Turkey

Ospreys centre Keiran Williams admits he still has a point to prove on the international stage with Wales.

He made his long-awaited debut against England in August, but was left out of Warren Gatland's World Cup squad.

Williams has again been in fine form for the Welsh region, with two tries in a player-of-the-match display against Scarlets last weekend.

"Hopefully it transpires into getting more minutes on the international stage," he said.

Williams may not have to wait that long, as the next opportunity is just around the corner with the 2024 Six Nations kicking off in less than five weeks.

He will be aiming to back up his display against Scarlets in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game at Benetton.

"I'd love to prove myself on that (international) stage but it's out of my hands," he said.

"The only thing you can do as a player is play consistently well and it's up to the coaches what they choose, and you've got to accept that.

"If it comes it comes, if it doesn't it doesn't I guess."

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Williams says winning his first senior cap in front of a full house at Twickenham was a "special moment" for himself and his family.

"It was something that I had worked towards for a long time," he said.

"The last couple of seasons I felt I had played well enough to have one chance. I had a chance and I'm very grateful for that. I learned a lot over the summer, it was a tough couple of months, but it was worth it to have that cap and it's something I'll never forget."

Williams admits his biggest area to improve after the disappointment of not going to the World Cup in France continues to be communication.

"It's a big factor in the game and that's something I'm working on and trying to get better at. It's something I'll probably need to work on for years to come," he said.

"Also as a 12 in the modern day, you have to be better than just carrying and footwork, you have to be scanning different things and you've got to be good with the ball in hand. That's something I need to improve on and hopefully I can do that going forward."

Williams' style of play and physical attributes have long seen him likened to Wales and British and Irish Lions centre Scott Gibbs.

The pair recently met where it all began in Neath for Scrum V and Williams says he never tires of the comparisons.

"It's very flattering for me to be compared to him because what I've achieved in the game and what he has is totally different," he said.

"He's obviously a Welsh legend and somebody I look up to.

"Off camera he gave me a bit of advice, just to keep doing what I'm good at, because what I'm good at and what he was good at is very similar."

In the modern game, Williams says he looks up to players like Ireland's Bundee Aki.

"The Irish centres, especially the way they play, they can easily carry the ball and their distribution is very good, and that's something as an international centre you need," Williams said.

"Defences nowadays are very strong and it's hard to break them down, and if you've got playmakers across the backline it makes it easier for the team to create opportunities."

In a summer in which Ospreys bid a fond farewell to experienced heads such as Alun Wyn Jones and Dan Lydiate, Williams now feels like one of the elder statesmen of the dressing room.

"If you look around the room there's a lot [of experience] gone, it is weird because I'm quite old now, I'm 26 on Monday so it's a strange feeling," he said.

"But I guess when you do lose that kind of experience there has to be players that step up, with younger guys coming through.

"If I can do that it helps everyone around me."