Shane left ‘perplexed’ by namesake’s place in pecking order

WALES legend Shane Williams says he is concerned about Owen Williams’ international future after being left “perplexed” by his situation at Gloucester.

Danny Cipriani’s move to Kingsholm in the summer cast doubts over Williams’ future but he stayed at the club and will fight for his place in the side in the upcoming season.

The 26-year-old started at inside centre for Wales during last year’s autumn internationals against Australia and New Zealand but did not play in the Six Nations due to the emergence of Scarlets star Hadleigh Parkes and also struggled for game time at Gloucester with Billy

Burns often preferred at fly-half.

Burns has since left to join Ulster but the arrival of England international Cipriani is likely to limit Williams’ opportunities with the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan coming up on the horizon.

And Shane Williams, the former British and Irish Lions wing, believes that will put a huge dent in his hopes of making the Wales squad and reckons it will be a huge season for the former Leicester man.

Writing in his column for The Rugby Paper, Wales’ record try scorer said: “One man who I think might be struggling is Owen.

“I must admit I’m a little perplexed by his situation at Gloucester.

“Owen was first-choice 12 for Wales against Australia and New Zealand last autumn, but he’s slipped behind Hadleigh and doesn’t seem to be too keen to leave Kingsholm.

“There have been links with the Dragons, but I’m concerned for Owen with Danny Cipriani now at the Cherry and Whites.

“How much rugby is he going to be playing? Without regular game time he won’t catch Warren’s eye.”

Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann has previously suggested that Williams could play alongside Cipriani by operating more often at 12, although he will also face competition there from Billy Twelvetrees and Mark Atkinson.

“He gives us a lot of opportunities and depth in that position but also we’ve lost the likes of Matt Scott, we’ve lost the likes of Andy Symons so it’s good to know that we’ve got Owen with the ability to play at 12,” said Ackermann.

“It brings another dimension to our game so the fact that you look at Wasps at the moment playing with Jimmy Gopperth and Danny at 10-12 and how well they attack it gives us that luxury as well.”