Rugby Update: Shane Williams recovering to play against England
Shane Williams is constantly improving after his shoulder injury. Wales have acknowledged a gift with affirmation that William’s recovery is advancing slickly and he might be able to face England in their first Six Nations game on 4th February.
Williams was sidelined since he dislocated his shoulder last month, during the home loss to Wales against the world champions South Africa. Williams went under surgery and was called off the field for twelve weeks. It was earlier suggested that he won’t be able to make the England Game and the Scotland match too. However, the official statement from Ospreys confirmed there is a chance that Williams might play for them at Heineken Cup against Toulon on 22nd January and thus being available for the Six Nations as well.
Shane Mark Williams, a Welsh international Rugby player who plays at scrum-half and as a wing both, is famous for his acceleration and his skill to find gaps even between tightest of defences. Shane Mark Williams stands at third position in the list of ‘All-time Test Try Scoring List’, after breaking Gareth Thomas’s record. He got selected for IRB International Player of the Year. In 2008, the little master was selected in Warren Gatland’s RBS Six Nations squad. Williams proved himself as the most developed winger in the championship, with his six impressive tries. He has scored a total of 51 tries up till now.
William’s comeback will be music to the ears of the Welsh coach, who has already lost his teenage wing George North. George North is also a shoulder injury victim. “Shane is five weeks post-op and is coming along well,” said Ospreys’ physiotherapist Chris Towers. “He’s making good progress and we aren’t ruling out a possible return for the Toulon game, which is in line with our original best-case scenario, although he still has some way to go yet.” said Towers. Williams is working hard and is only doing two sessions per day.
The Ospreys, this Heineken Cup are in a fierce race with Munster and Toulon to make it to the top spot in Pool three. Meanwhile, it was a disappointment when Ospreys were forced to postpone their sell-out Magners league game, due to frozen water pipes in few of the stands, at Liberty Stadium. The Ospreys had to play against Llanelli Scarlets in Swansea’s only stadium.
Ospreys, formerly known as Neath Swansea Ospreys, plays in EDF Energy Cup, Heineken Cup and the Magners League. They dropped the prefix in 2005 season and now only known as Ospreys. The company is still known as Neath Swansea Ospreys. Ospreys had their first ‘A’ team matches in 2007 against Newport Gwent Dragons and they lost it. Ospreys’ current team compromises of only Welsh players. The only three foreign players they have are the two flankers and a scrum-half from New Zealand, Jerry Collins, Marty Holah and Jamie Nutbrown respectively. Currently Ospreys stand at second position in Heinekens Cup with four wins out of six. They hold twenty points in the pool with two bonus points. Their standing in Magners Cup this is somehow similar, as they stand at second position with thirteen victories out of eighteen matches played. They won the grand-final against Leinster with 12-7 this season and ended up with 52 points on the table, including six bonus points.
Availability of the superstar Shane Williams is important for both the League and the National teams. Warren Gatland is eagerly waiting to welcome his fully fit winger back to the squad. The player doesn’t only have potential but has a legacy of being one of the fastest runners in the game of Rugby. The match turner and ladies favourite, is most expected to play for Ospreys and then for his national team Wales against England in Six Nations. The most awaited match of 2011 is to be held on 4th of February, where the two traditional rivals will clash.
Tags: