SHANE OPENS UP ON 2009 LIONS FEARS
FORMER Wales wing Shane Williams has revealed the Lions team-mate that he was “petrified” of sharing a hotel room with.
The Ospreys legend went on two tours in 2005 and 2009, but there was one tourist who he admitted he was worried about rooming with – the fearsome Ireland second row and 2009 tour captain Paul O’Connell.
Speaking on the Changing Room Chat podcast, Williams said that he was concerned that O’Connell and Williams might not exactly get along after what he described as “banter” between the pair during Six Nations clashes between Ireland and Wales – especially when the pair were chosen to room together.
However, the Amman Valley legend admits he was pleasantly surprised at how a new friendship blossomed between the pair in 2009.
“Paul O’Connell was an absolute monster and he always petrified me,” said Williams.
“There he was, 9ft tall or whatever it was and I was terrified by him. The red hair on him and whenever I came up against him on the field, I just thought he wanted to eat me.
“Sometimes on the field, you have some banter that may go too far at times and O’Connell was someone I had some of that banter with.
“I would make fun of opponents if I ran around them and Paul would not be the only person who would have wanted to get their hands on me.
“So I remember going on the 2009 Lions tour thinking the last person I want to share a room with is Paul O’Connell.
“I thought he hated me, so when I walk into the dressing room and Paul is there I was thinking ‘oh no!’, but you know what, he was one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met.
“We are good mates to this day. We played a lot of golf together on that trip and he is just a completely different fella off the field. A born winner who will do whatever it takes on the field and that is why he is a leader, but a gentleman off it.
“That’s what a Lions tour is all about. You would get the chance to spend time with players you would never want to spend five seconds with, but it was very different off the field.”
He also added that another Ireland and Lions skipper, Brian O’Driscoll, was one of the best players he ever played with or against.
“Brian O’Driscoll is, without doubt, one of the best I shared a field with,” he continued. “His knowledge of the game was exceptional and he has to be one of the best of all time.
“I’ve played against the likes of Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, but I was up against O’Driscoll more often in my career and you start to study the very best when you are around them.
“He reads the game inside out, he knows exactly what is happening on the field. The space he created for players was incredible. His all-round game was up there with the best I’ve ever seen.
“You look at him as a pundit now and it’s clear to see how he understands the game.”