Youngs backs winner Williams

LEICESTER captain Tom Youngs says he is surprised that Wales continue to overlook goalkicking matchwinner Owen Williams.

The uncapped Tigers centre or fly-half booted six penalties including a clinching strike from 52 metres - to floor European Champions Cup opponents Munster at Welford Road.

It was Williams’ latest demonstration of an ice-cool temperament under pressure - and former England hooker Youngs is among his admirers.

“Owen has grown a lot,” Youngs said, following an 18-16 win that kept Leicester in the Champions Cup quarter-final mix.

“He’s a tremendous player, a competitor who wants to win. He is up for any sort of challenge.

“Owen is a pretty honest and reliable guy. Fair play to him. I can’t imagine what that pressure is like when the whole crowd is silent and you have a big kick like that one.”

Williams, 24, has yet to make a breakthrough at Test level and is currently not part of the Wales set-up, but Youngs added: “I am surprised because he offers something different to what they’ve got there.

“But I am sure he will just keep working hard and keep his head down.

“You enjoy playing with guys with good temperaments like that. They want to fight for everything, and they enjoy the challenge.”

Elsewhere in the Champions Cup, Leinster stormed to a 60-13 bonus point victory over Northampton after a nine-try annihilation at the Aviva Stadium.

Saints’ heaviest ever European defeat saw Leinster make it back-toback wins over the English side and take a six-point lead at the top of Pool Four.

In Pool Three, Scarlets held on for a historic 22-21 victory over Toulon, whose Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny missed a last-minute penalty which would have won the game.

Jack Carty showed nerves of steel to convert Naulia Dawai’s injury-time try and steer Connacht to a terrific 20-18 win over Wasps at the Sportsground on Saturday night.