Williams wants to see Williams get Wales call
SHANE Williams believes Keiran Williams can offer Wales something different if Warren Gatland gives him a chance ahead of this year’s World Cup.
The uncapped Ospreys centre was part of Gatland’s squad for the Six Nations, in which Wales finished fifth with just one win to their name, but the 25-year-old didn’t feature at all throughout the tournament. Having not been included in the matchday 23 for the opening matches against Ireland, Scotland and England, injury on duty for the Ospreys ruled him out of the remaining clashes with Italy and France.
However, after a tough tournament for Gatland and his side, Wales’ best midfield combination is still up in the air. Joe Hawkins and George North started the tournament together, before Cardiff youngster Mason Grady was brought in alongside Hawkins. The campaign then ended with North partnering Nick Tompkins.
But Wales’ record try-scorer Williams believes the hard-running Ospreys centre can offer something different to Wales’ midfield should he get the chance between now and the World Cup later this year in France.
“He made so many changes, if you didn’t get on that field during the Six Nations, you were very unlucky, weren’t you,” Williams told WalesOnline.
“We had a look at Mason Grady. I feel he’s got a lot of potential alongside Joe Hawkins. It didn’t go particularly well for them against Italy, but they’re young and they’ll learn from that.
“It felt to me like it was crying out for Keiran Williams to have a chance. He wasn’t used, of course. We didn’t see much of Rhys Davies and Aaron Wainwright only came back in the last game. Jac Morgan had a couple of opportunities but there were so many changes.
“But, Keiran Williams is the big one for me. I think he’s been superb for the Ospreys. He’s a little bit different in what we’ve had compared to Jamie Roberts or Jonathan Davies - or even Mason Grady right now. I had my fingers crossed that he’d get an opportunity but he hasn’t. However, I’m sure he’ll have other opportunities moving forward with the World Cup. He’d have been a nice change, I think.”