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Mon 28 May 2012 | 06:22
Shane Williams bows out on a high with decisive tries in PRO12 final

13
Comments

Shane Williams helped the Ospreys to a dramatic 31-30 win over European Champions Leinster in the RaboDirect PRO12 final in Dublin on Sunday. Williams scored twice, including a late try that was brilliantly converted by Dan Biggar.

Hanging up his boots at the age of 35, Williams has sensationally scored tries in all of his 'farewell' games. First it was against the Wallabies for Wales, then he did it a few weeks back in what was dubbed his farewell game, then yesterday he did it in his final game for the Ospreys.

Williams feels that after beating the Heineken Cup winners, Ospreys should now be regarded as one of the strongest sides in Europe. "We've shown that we can compete with the likes of Leinster.

"They are probably the best European side ever, really, up there with Toulouse and Munster. And we can come to the RDS and play a full-strength side and come away with a victory under pressure.

"That's the sign of a good team. I am very proud of the fact that I am associated with the Ospreys.

"We have worked very hard this season, we have had our ups and downs and there has been a lot of change in the ranks, with a lot of players leaving the region. For us to stick at it the way we have this season, it's a compliment to the guys.

"I'll never forget this day. It's up there with anything I've achieved in my career. To go out with a couple of tries in a final in your last game for the region means a huge amount."

Williams will play one mroe game on Saturday, for the Barbarians, against none other than Wales.

Below are his two tries and the winning conversion. The rest of the highlights will be posted soon.

Posted By: Grant Constable

13 Comments

  • colombes
    8:37 PM 29/05/2012

    Great finish by the hairsprays
    Also glad to watch Williams zigzaging through the defences for a last goodbye

    i don't really know the level of implication of boh teams in this Rabobank league, but i think leinster just discovered here what was the feeling to play 2 big matchs in the same 7 days (hcup and league) as french and english ones are used to

  • stroudos
    6:47 PM 29/05/2012

    No! That is brilliant!

  • welshosprey
    6:39 PM 29/05/2012

    Hanno dirksen is our only winger worth mentioning, fussell is a pretty handy winger too but he seems to have settled at fullback now.
    IMO shane williams retired to early and still has a few more ospreys seasons left in him.

  • 1:13 PM 29/05/2012

    Agreed, as a Leinster Fan I was gutted, but Williams took the edge off. He and Ospreys were good for the win, the ref was just frustrating for all involved.
    Going to be a tough year next year for the Ospreys, losing Williams and Bowe at the same time. Any young talents coming through to make it interesting?

  • tanqueray
    1:02 PM 29/05/2012

    This guy just writes his own scripts. I've lost count of how many times he has done this. The most painful for me being Wales v Scotland in Cardiff in 2010. He has been a pleasure to watch.

    On a purile comedy note, anyone else catch the Commentator around 2.41 stating that this will be Dan Biggar's biggest pr*ck of his career...?!

  • billyk
    12:38 PM 29/05/2012

    Give this man a humility medal!

  • rugbydump
    9:35 AM 29/05/2012

    Thought it was him.

  • poccio
    11:54 PM 28/05/2012

    is that john hayes at 1.30?

  • stroudos
    11:36 PM 28/05/2012

    Jesus, this bloke really writes his own fairytale endings doesn't he? I really hope he manages at least one more against the BaaBaas, or that really would be an anti-climax!

    BTW, great kick under pressure at the end by Kevin Bacon.

  • mise
    11:28 PM 28/05/2012

    agree on the ref @welsh osprey. Esp just before half time: main cause of the handbags in the tunnel I'd say. However, scrum seems to be an area that is becoming more and more difficult to ref: the whole game was half destroyed by the crap scrums.
    Well impressed with the new Osprey's thou, post-galacticos. More Welsh qualified players than Leinster had Irish qualified (and that's sayin something!). Good balance in the team, great future ahead of them.

  • dave
    11:19 PM 28/05/2012

    As a Leinster fan, if I had to lose to one player, it'd be Williams. I was gutted leaving the stadium yesterday, but looking back, I'm glad it was him to get the tries. A true legend of the sport, in a time where the word "legend" gets thrown about too often. He also has a great knack for scoring in his last game for a team - mores the pity!

    I thought we'd done enough to win it with 10 minutes to go, but our defence simply wasn't good enough. We can blame Poite all we want, and he had a terrible game - especially the sin-binning of White, but it was Leinster that lost the game, not the ref. You can't give a player like Williams space, nor can you play for 20 minutes with 14 player against a team of the Ospreys quality. Leinster are the better side, but this one was deservedly an Ospreys win. Well done to them, and I'm sure all at Leinster looking forward to having ye over again next season! :-)

  • welshosprey
    11:11 PM 28/05/2012

    Ref was diabolical, screwed both teams over numerous times
    That said, it was still a great game.. sad to see shane williams go though

  • ruggernut
    11:08 PM 28/05/2012

    @Rugbydump If possible, could you get Ashley Beck's try too. Preferably with the whole build up starting from the kickoff to the second half. I thought the Ospreys showed great composure to score that one.

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