Injuries have meant he has started just six out of 18 Tests during Wayne Pivac’s time in charge of Wales, but Tomos Williams is ‘perfect’ for the New Zealander’s style of rugby.
So reckons Shane Williams, the national team’s all-time record try scorer.
Pivac watched Tomos Williams go head to head with Rhys Webb in the Ospreys v Cardiff United Rugby Championship derby in Swansea on Saturday evening. The hosts managed to keep a tight rein on the Cardiff scrum-half, who, unusually for him, didn’t make a single clean break, but the previous week against Connacht he had been outstanding.
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So far during Pivac’s reign, Gareth Davies is up with the Treorchy product in beginning six Wales matches, while Kieran Hardy has started four with Webb and Lloyd Williams in the run-on side once apiece.
No No. 9 has started three consecutive Tests.
The lack of continuity in such a key position hasn’t helped Wales, and, according to Shane, it’s time Wales backed the Cardiff player.
“I’d like to see Tomos Williams given a long run at scrum-half,” he writes in his column in The Rugby Paper.
“He is such a livewire of a player who is perfect for Wayne’s attacking, free-flowing style of rugby.
“If you held a gun to Wayne’s head and asked him for his first-choice half-back pairing, I have a hunch he’d pick Tomos and Gareth Anscombe.
Tomos Williams in action for Cardiff
(Image: Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)
“Wayne has chopped and changed his nines in the last two years with Gareth Davies, Tomos, Rhys Webb, Kieran Hardy and Lloyd Williams all having a go.
“They are all good players but I think Tomos is the man for the next few years. I think he was unlucky not to tour South Africa with the British and Irish Lions this summer.
“He brings something different.
“I honestly think he is due a big campaign if he stays fit.
“Going up against the likes of New Zealand’s Aaron Smith and South Africa’s Faf de Klerk will be his biggest challenge but it’s a test I’m sure he would relish.”
Wales open their autumn programme of internationals on October 30 when New Zealand visit Cardiff, with November Tests inked in against South Africa, Fiji and Australia.
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