Trophy News from WalesOnline.co.uk……
Shane Bids To Add To His Great Trophy Haul
SHANE WILLIAMS is planning to add to his magnificent seven collection of trophies in 2008 by lifting the elusive the Heineken Cup next spring.
The “Great Entertainer” has won a stream of accolades following an amazing year.
Wales picked up the Six Nations title; the Triple Crown for beating England, Scotland and Ireland; and the James Bevan Trophy following their memorable 20-15 triumph over Tri-Nations runners-up Australia at the Millennium Stadium 11 days ago.
His region the Ospreys went into the year as Magners League champions, but lost that title to crack Irish province Leinster.
However, Welsh rugby’s big spenders got some consolation for losing their hold on the Celtic crown and bombing out of the Heineken Cup following a stunning upset against English outfit Saracens at Vicarage Road by walloping Leicester Tigers in the Twickenham-held final of the Anglo-Welsh EDF Energy Cup.
And Shane has bagged another three of his own. He was overwhelming winner of the public vote to find the Six Nations player of the tournament, was named International Rugby Board player of the year and, earlier this week, BBC Wales sports personality of the year.
Only three pieces of major silverware are missing from his trophy cabinet: the Heineken Cup, the World Cup and British Lions’ Test series glory.
The 31-year-old winger accepts he might not be around come the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, but is desperate to make next summer’s Lions tour of South Africa.
But, first of all, Williams wants the Ospreys to become the first Welsh team to lift the Heineken Cup – the final takes place in Edinburgh on May 24 next year – and Wales to retain their European crown.
Ospreys continue their assault on the Heineken – no Welsh team has reached the final of the European showpiece since Cardiff were beaten by Toulouse in the final 12 years ago – at Treviso in Italy on Saturday.
They are four points behind leaders Leicester in Pool Three and five points ahead of French club Perpignan, with Treviso yet to get off the mark.
The Ospreys have to finish top of their group to book an automatic place in the quarter-finals of the European jewel.
And Wales’ record try-scorer Shane is convinced they possess the strike weapons – the likes of Lee Byrne, Tommy Bowe, Gavin Henson, James Hook, Mike Phillips, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Ian Gough, Marty Holah and Filo Tiatia – to make up for last-term’s Heineken flop.
“We were disappointed last season because we thought we could go on and win it,” said 61-times capped Williams.
The Ospreys had thumped Saracens in the semi-final of the EDF at the Millennium Stadium a fortnight earlier, but were mugged at Vicarage Road in the Heineken.
It cost them a money-spinning Cardiff-staged semi-final with eventual European kings Munster and a potential final in the Welsh capital.
But Shane insists they can consign embarrassing failure at Saracens, which was a major factor in the departure of Ospreys coach Lyn Jones a few weeks later, to the dustbin by conquering Europe this campaign.
“We are a better side this year. We have a lot of strength in depth in this squad,” stressed Williams.
“We were disappointed last season because we thought we could go on and win it.
“The Heineken Cup, in particular, is something we at the Ospreys are targeting this season and it’s something which is certainly missing from my trophy collection.
“If you want to put it into some kind of perspective, someone like Gareth Thomas in 2005, won the Grand Slam with Wales, but he also captained the Lions and lifted the Heineken Cup with Toulouse.
“So there is still plenty for me to aim for. I may not be captaincy material, but it would be great to make a Lions tour of South Africa in the summer and perhaps go one better than ‘Alfie’ and be involved in a winning set-up.
“But, my immediate aim is an obvious one – to take the Ospreys as far as we can in the Heineken Cup and work hard to defend the Six Nations title with Wales.
“This last year has been out of this world for me, to be honest, and it’s pretty difficult to choose a favourite trophy, but, if pushed, I have go to go for both the EDF Energy Cup and the Six Nations trophy.
“Both of those are symbolic of a lot of hard work put in by an entire team … the players, management and staff … at international and regional level with Wales and the Ospreys.
“Seven trophies speak for themselves and tell you what a great year I have had in rugby, but I keep saying it’s not over yet.”
Williams reckons Wales could provide the biggest contingent to next year’s Lions squad, but stressed: “There’s a lot of rugby to be played before then.
“But, yes, I would like to be part of a Lion tour again, a successful Lions tour this time.”
Shane went to New Zealand with the Lions three years ago but they suffered a 3-0 “blackwash” against the All Blacks and he wants to make amends after only appearing in the second Test.
But, he acknowledged, the 2011 World Cup might be beyond him, saying: “I will be 34 then and it might be a step too far for me.
“I would like to be part of a successful Wales team at the World Cup, but we will have to see how my body is, how fit I am and how much I am enjoying my rugby.”
Originally posted by Andy Howell.
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