Williams desperate to seal the deal on Wales Grand Slam GUINNESS SIX NATIONS
Full-back targets victory in Paris to make sure of title
LIAM Williams feels it would be “an amazing achievement” if Wales can seal the deal this afternoon and be crowned Six Nations Grand Slam champions for a second time in three seasons.
Williams and company face France in Paris with everything on the line.
Victory means the Guinness Six Nations title will be secured for a sixth time, in addition to completing a fifth Grand Slam.
A losing bonus point would still be enough if France do not collect a bonus-point win, but five points for Les Bleus – and a repeat performance by them against Scotland next week – could thwart Welsh ambitions.
For Wales to even be in the position they are takes some believing, given that they recorded just three Test match victories from 10 starts last year and claimed a poor fifthplaced Autumn Nations Cup finish.
“It’s a totally different tournament to the autumn,” said Wales full-back Williams, who started all five games during the successful 2019 campaign and is set for his fourth Six Nations start this season.
“We were just coming out of lockdown, we had not played much rugby and we weren’t used to having no fans in the ground. The autumn wasn’t great and the fans were on our back, which is kind of understandable.
“We’ve come through and won four from four, and personally, it would be an amazing achievement to win a Grand Slam.
“It is what people dream about, and for the fans who haven’t been able to be there and have been watching on television, we want to get the win for them as well.”
Wales players and staff have been in a bio-secure bubble at their training base and hotel since late January.
And it has proved especially odd for 70 times-capped
Williams, who is currently renting an apartment within the grounds of the hotel complex - but cannot go home.
“Whenever we drive down to the bottom pitch to train, I always see my partner in the window and give her a wave!” he added.
“It is a bit strange, but it’s strange times at the moment.
“Our [squad] entertainments committee, food and everything has been brought into one. We put on a couple of movie nights, and we’ve had a pool and darts competition in the team room, too.”
Williams has been on a losing Wales team just once in seven Tests against France, but he knows the size of challenge that awaits.
And he is also ready for the Shaun Edwards factor, with Wales’ acclaimed former defence coach now filling
that role as part of France’s management team.
“With Shaun being over there he has turned them into a different team, defensively,” Williams said.
“I think he will be looking at their physicality against us – that will be huge for Shaun.
“I know when he was here, it was all about physicality. I am sure he will have a few things up his sleeve for the weekend. We will wait and see.”
Alun Wyn Jones says excitement and support from the Welsh public is “definitely not lost on us” as Wales try to win a Guinness Six Nations Championship like no other.
Wales conclude their campaign against France in Paris on Saturday, when victory would see them crowned Six Nations Grand Slam champions for the second time in three seasons.
This time, though, the feat would be achieved in its entirety without fans in the grounds due to coronavirusrelated restrictions.
But, despite the tournament being played out behind closed doors,
Jones knows that supporters’ sense of expectation and encouragement has not waned.
“The privilege and the sense of pride we have in representing Wales has been accentuated by the off-field situation,” Wales captain Jones said.
“I, as an individual, and the team have not needed reminding of what everyone is facing and what we are representing.
“The people you do come in contact with are probably more animated and excited than they would be anyway. It is definitely felt.
“At the Vale (Wales’ hotel and training base) there are a few guys relaying the driveway, and you could see the excitement in their faces as they waved us off. It is definitely not lost on us.
“There is an overriding sense of anticipation and excitement for what is a relatively large fixture tomorrow.”