Williams: Lions out to impress

Welsh winger determined to take his chance on Saturday

Last updated: 2nd July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Williams: Lions out to impress

Williams: Giving it his all

We're a very proud bunch of players and we want to show on Saturday that we could have won the series.

Shane Williams
Quotes of the week

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British and Irish Lions winger Shane Williams has a "point to prove" against South Africa on Saturday.

The 2008 IRB Player of the Year has been handed a start for the weekend's series finale at Ellis Park, having been overlooked for the first two Tests.

The Welshman did come on for the last 15 minutes in Pretoria at the weekend, only to see the tourists go down to a last gasp 28-25 defeat.

But Williams has revealed the determination that still pervades the Lions camp.

"It's been a tough, physical tour and losing the series is not what we came out here for, so there's still work to do," Williams said. "But we were not far off and we have enjoyed ourselves, we've had fun.

"I'm at my best when I'm smiling on the field so I'm determined to go out and enjoy myself and play my own game on Saturday.

Disappointed

"Of course, I was disappointed not to start in the first two Tests. I realise we are 2-0 down but myself and all the other players who missed out earlier have a point to prove.

"We feel hard done by to have lost the series, we were unlucky, so we are more determined than ever now. We're a very proud bunch of players and we want to show on Saturday that we could have won the series.

"I don't believe there's any danger of a whitewash, we're up for the game and we're going in with the right attitude."

At 32 years of age, this could well be Williams' last Lions tour and the winger, who also toured New Zealand with the 2005 Lions, has savoured every moment.

"Being Welsh, I grew up with stories of the legends of the 1970s and the majority of the 1974 Lions were Welsh," he added.

"So the British and Irish Lions are massive in Wales and it is the pinnacle of any Welshman's career to play for them. I'm lucky to do it twice."