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'I think we can win it': Williams confident of Wales World Cup success

Written by 
Published in Rugby
Tuesday, 15 October 2019 13:59

If anybody epitomises the calm confidence within the Wales squad, it is full-back Liam Williams.

After all, the Saracens back has already won Champions Cup, Gallagher Premiership and a Grand Slam in 2019.

Now there is only one thing left to add to his glittering CV for this calendar year.

And Williams is not shy of predicting what he thinks Wales can achieve in the next two weeks as they prepare to face France in the quarter-finals, following four wins from four in Group D.

"There's only one thing we think we can do and that is win [the World Cup]," said Williams.

"Four wins from four games so far has been good and exactly what we aimed for at the start of the campaign.

"I wouldn't say we've got the easy route to the World Cup but we've got France next and we need to beat them to be looking at the bigger picture. I then think we can go on and win it."

Previous Welsh sides and individual players would have been unwilling to make such bold statements. This Warren Gatland squad are not afraid to back themselves.

Williams says confidence has come from the past 18 months which have seen Six Nations success and a record 14-match unbeaten run.

"Over the past 18 months we've won the Six Nations and we've been away on a couple of these camps and it has all brought us into one huge team," said Williams.

"That has been great for Wales and hopefully it is going to put us in good stead."

The belief has been instilled by the departing Gatland, who is aiming to conclude his 12-year reign as Wales coach with global glory.

"Warren doesn't really switch much," said Williams. "He's just himself and gives us a lot of energy.

"We'll have a laugh and a joke but when it comes down to working we'll work."

Williams has played a pivotal part in the Welsh renaissance of the past two years and has erased some of the hot-headed traits that affected him earlier in his international career.

The 28-year-old is now one of the establishment with 61 Wales caps and three British and Irish Lions Tests to his name and is an integral member of the all-conquering Saracens side.

In 2019, Williams has an 85% win ratio with club and country, with 17 victories in 20 games. The only defeats have been two with Wales in their World Cup warm-ups against England and Ireland in August, and a solitary Saracens loss at Sale.

"Maybe I've matured a bit, I'm not sure," said Williams.

"[It's] age, I guess, and a bit of experience of playing outside Wales and with different people.

"I was with Scarlets for six years and leaving Wales to go and play up in London was great. That has taught me a lot about myself on and off the rugby pitch."

Williams has not lost his combative nature though and has excelled in this World Cup despite being the victim of some hefty tackles in games against Fiji and Australia.

The former Scarlet has also been involved in some unfortunate incidents involving his own team-mates during the tournament, with his main victim being Dan Biggar.

First, Williams accidentally clashed heads with Biggar during the first game against Georgia while celebrating the opening Jonathan Davies try.

Biggar left the field later in the first half after failing a head injury assessment following his tackle on Samu Kerevi.

More spectacularly and worryingly was Williams' and Biggar's mid-air collision while both players were attempting to catch a high ball, the Wales fly-half coming off second best.

Biggar again left the field with a head injury but is set to be passed fit to face France.

"It was just that the ball was in the middle of the two of us and he is not one to back out," said Williams.

"So I went up for it and unfortunately caught him on the way down.

"He said after the World Cup it is his turn to knock me out!"

Biggar and Williams will be crucial components against a French side that Wales have dominated in the past eight years.

Gatland has had the upper hand against France, with Wales winning seven of their past eight matches since the infamous 2011 World Cup semi-final defeat in Auckland.

"They are a great team," said Williams. "They have got some old heads and experience in their team and have been playing well in this World Cup.

"This is the biggest one and the game that matters."

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