WILLIAMS ON WALES’ CLASH IN COLWYN BAY
WALES centre Scott Williams says the national side’s young guns have to prove their worth when they take on Principality Premiership outfit RGC 1404 at Parc Eirias tonight.
Caretaker coach Robin McBryde – filling in for Warren Gatland and Rob Howley who are both in New Zealand on British and Irish Lions duty – named five uncapped players in his starting XV for Wales’ trip to North Wales to face the WRU National Cup winners.
Keelan Giles, Adam Beard, Seb Davies, Ollie Griffiths and Aled Davies will all don the first-team jersey at what will be a soldout Eirias.
And Williams – fresh from his Guinness Pro12 title-winning exploits with the Scarlets – admits the squad rookies must seize their opportunity with both hands in Colwyn Bay to ensure they remain in the national fold for years to come.
“The younger boys have really stepped up this season in Wales and it’s nice to see them given a chance to kick on against RGC,” he told the Welsh Rugby Union website. “They have to take their opportunities. “I’ve played against quite a few of them this season, and I’m trying to help some of the younger guys with the calls and the types of patterns we play. It is quite hard going from regional rugby to Wales.
“The calls are different, but you can switch back into it fairly quickly once you know them.
“It’s a chance for the younger guys to get some match fitness under their belts. I’m sure they’ll be itching to play and try and progress.”
The 46-cap Wales centre starred in the Scarlets’ sensational semi-final victory over Leinster at the RDS before putting in a fine display as his side stunned Munster at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium to win the Guinness Pro12 title just eight days later - the region’s first success in the competition since 2004.
He has been named among the replacements for the game against RGC, but the Scarlets ace admits he’s determined to get a run-out in Colwyn Bay having never played at Parc Eirias.
Williams added: “We flew back to Manchester on Sunday after the final with Munster and then we were straight up to north Wales. It’s been nice to get to know some of the new boys who I haven’t met before.
“I’m starting to feel old, but it’s a good bunch up here and we’ve got a lot of guys who are playing well.
“The game with RGC is going to be important because a lot of the guys who haven’t been in the environment before don’t know the calls.
“It’s a big game to get used to things like that. RGC have had a very good season, so I’m sure they’re going to give us a tough game.
“Some of us have played a lot more rugby than others in recent weeks, but I’ll be ready to come on if needed.
“I haven’t played a proper game at Eirias before, just a couple of controlled training sessions and I was too old for the Under-20’s when they moved up there. I’m looking forward to getting out there.
“They love their rugby in north Wales and I’m sure it’s going to be a great crowd with a great atmosphere.” RGC 1404: Afon Bagshaw, Carwyn ap Myrddin, Tom Hughes, Tiaan Loots, Rhys Williams, Jacob Botica, Efan Jones; Joe Simpson, Evan Yardley, Sam Wainwright, Sean Lonsdale, Andrew Williams (Capt), Tim Grey, Mei Parry, Huw Worthington. Replacements: Rhys Williams, Curtis Reynolds, Ross Davies, Robin Williams, Will Bryan, Cam Davies, Billy McBryde, Dion Jones. Wales team v RGC 1404 (players will be wearing their squad numbers, indicated below): Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues, 32); Keelan Giles (Ospreys 29), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons 27), Jamie Roberts (capt, Harlequins 24), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues 25); Sam Davies (Ospreys 22), Aled Davies (Scarlets 21); Nicky Smith (Ospreys 1), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues 6), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs 4), Adam Beard (Ospreys 10), Cory Hill (Newport Gwent Dragons 11), Seb Davies (Cardiff Blues 14), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues 17), Ollie Griffiths (Newport Gwent Dragons 16). Replacements from: Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues 2), Wyn Jones (Scarlets 3), Rhodri Jones (Ospreys 5), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys 33), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys 7), Ryan Elias (Scarlets 8), Scott Otten (Ospreys 9), Rory Thornton (Ospreys 12), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues 13), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets 15), Thomas Young (Wasps 18), Gareth Davies (Scarlets 19), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues 20), Owen Williams (Leicester Tigers 23), Scott Williams (Scarlets 26), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues 28), Steffan Evans (Scarlets 30), Rhys Patchell (Scarlets 31).