Although the Blues and Wales flanker can count himself unfortunate not to have earned a start in the Test series, Williams has been one of the outstanding members of the Lions squad. His first half try on Tuesday capped another personal triumph.
“It was great to be here, great to play and brilliant for me to finish a wonderful tour with a try like that.” he said. “All credit to Cuets (Mark Cueto) and Daws (Matt Dawson) for setting up, they did a great job. All I had to do was fall over the line. Having said that I am trying to convince people that it was a 20 yard dash rather than a two yard dive.”
Williams was everywhere in the game, outplaying All Black openside Daniel Braid and proving himself to be the number one genuine openside flank forward on the trip. Although the Blues flanker has proven himself to be one of the world’s most complete genuione opensides over the past few weeks, he certainly does not expect to march straight back into the Wales team.
Mike Ruddock’s team face New Zealand, Fiji, South Africa and Australia in the up-coming autumn series of games with places very much up for grabs after a fantastic summer tour to North America and Canada. And Williams is ready to challenge for one of the jerseys alongside the likes of Colin Charvis and Richie Pugh.
“Just because I have spent my summer on a Lions tour does not mean I am an automatic choice for selection,” said Williams. “Far from it. I will have to go back to Wales and fight for my place just like the next man. That’s the beauty of what is happening in Wales at the moment. We have plenty of good players and real sterngth in depth in certain areas of the side. If you look at the back row, there must be nine or ten players who could claim to be in with a chance. Some of them have had a chance to impress Mike at first hand this summer. I have done my work 12,500 miles away.”
