Ospreys’ utility back Shane Williams ruled out of Barbarians’ clash – Rugby Union
Ospreys’ versatile winger and scrum half, Shane Williams, has been ruled out of the Saturday, June 4, clash against the Barbarians at Cardiff. Wales international was named in the Wales rugby union squad for the Bar Baas because it was expected that he would
recover from his injury by June 4.
Welsh international Williams sustained serious injury to his knee during the 2011 Six Nations Wales and Ireland encounter on March 12. Shane’s knee did not recover enough to justify his place on the squad and has been ruled out of the Saturday clash. The
Wales national rugby union team’s backs coach Robert Howley confirmed the news on Wednesday June 01, 2011.
Howley stated that Williams failed to recover from the knee injury and they will not take a risk with his injury by forcing him to play unfit in Saturday’s clash. He said, “He's up to about 85% running and obviously thinking of long-term in terms of Rugby
World Cup, there's not many games left in the tank for Shane and we just decided that it's in the best interests of Welsh rugby to give him a rest.”
Howley confirmed that the 34-year-old Williams would join the Wales national rugby union squad for their pre-World Cup preparation games. Wales will play with their sporting rivals England twice in August followed by a game with the Pumas of Argentina in
the same month.
Morriston born Williams has made 83 international appearances for the Wales and scored 55 tries in his career. He has scored seven World Cup tries during his earlier appearances during the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has not named any replacement for Williams but most believe that this development will allow the Newport Gwent Dragon’s winger, Aled Brew, to make appearance against the Baa Baas. Howley has expressed his hopes the Brew will
take most of the opportunity and termed him as a perfect fit for the Barbarians clash. He further added, “He's a player who's playing particularly well for the Dragons, who finished the season off very strong. He's very physical and up against probably what
we're expecting from a Barbarians, probably a more physical sort of game.”
The Wales squad for their Barbarians match includes-
Forwards: S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), L Reed (Scarlets), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), J Turnbull (Scarlets), ,P James (Ospreys), J Yapp (Cardiff Blues),
R Bevington (Ospreys), S Andrews (Cardiff Blues), H Bennett (Ospreys), R Hibbard (Ospreys), L Burns (Newport Gwent Dragons), A-W Jones (Ospreys), R Jones (Ospreys).
Backs: G Henson (Toulon), S Jones (Scarlets), R Priestland (Scarlets), M Phillips (Ospreys), T Knoyle (Scarlets), M Stoddart (Scarlets), G North (Scarlets), A Brew (Newport Gwent Dragons), J Davies (Scarlets).
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