Steve Tandy looks to Hanno Dirksen to fill the void – Rugby News Update
Steve Tandy, the head of Ospreys, is looking towards Hanno Dirksen, the 21-year-old Ospreys winger to propel his team to victory over Leinster in the final of the RaboDirect PRO12. He wants him to replace Shane Williams, the recently retired Wales and Ospreys
winger, besides being a legend of Welsh rugby.
Tandy has been talking up Dirksen's talent, who he believes has been improving week in and week out, has come a long way since and has really matured over the season.
He said, "Every week he's been getting better. He's a Shane for us in the way the supporters identify with him. Hanno puts backsides on seats and gives us an identity. It's surprised us how quickly it has happened."
However, Leinster comes at the back of a victory in the Heineken Cup, defeating Ulster in the final and it will be tough for Ospreys to claim the title, especially with Shane Williams now retired.
Williams called time on his career recently, announcing his international retirement before quitting the domestic game. He played his last test match against Australia at the Millennium Stadium, on December 3, 2011.
Before making his Wales debut, he was considered a bit heavy for his country and was consistently over looked, but he established himself by repeatedly putting in strong performances. He made his debut against France at the Millennium Stadium, on February
5, 2000, as a substitute, and marked his full international start with a try against Italy at the 2000 Six Nations tournament.
Williams would go on to score the most number of tries for Wales, along with playing at the 2003, 2007 and the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He broke the 50-test try barrier in 2009, and the previous year he surpassed Gareth Thomas' try-scoring record during the
2008 Grand Slam decider against France. After hanging up the boots he has joined Tandy's back staff.
"The maturity of the senior, core group of players, Six Nations Grand Slam winners, is rubbing off on the younger players," Tandy said. "Shane is a former world player of the year and one of them. When I took over as coach, Shane wasn't playing but he was
trying to pass on his knowledge to Eli Walker and Hanno at training."
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