Diolch Shane!

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Words are not enough when it comes to describing Shane Williams' international career or how much he has down for his country. Williams was fortunate enough to play one last time in front of a home crowd as he hung up his international boots for the final time.

More than 61,000 fans turned up to say farewell to Williams and I am not sure there was not a dry eye in the stadium after he crossed the line. It was a truly spectacular ending to a fantastic career and in true fashion, it was the Welsh hero who had the last word. He went over for a try with his last touch, nothing could have been more justifiable for his last game in a red jersey.

After the game Williams said "It was a fantastic occasion for me personally and I feel privileged. There's no better place to play than the Millennium Stadium and because of the fans I was balling my eyes out .

Talking about the try he said "I couldn't have scripted it better .

Standing in the stadium during those final moments it was hard not to be overcome by emotion, longing for Williams to go over for his country just one last time, deep down hoping that he wasn't actually going to go through with his retirement from international rugby. As Williams got hold of the ball the chanting 'Shane Shane Shane' was enough to send shivers down your spine, and then the electrifying roar, he had done it. There was joy, there was tears, and a lot of them!

I spent the majority of my four hour drive home after Williams' swansong chanting 'there's only one Shane Williams' and boy is it true.

But it was not just about that final game, it is about what he has brought to Welsh rugby since his debut over a decade ago. Since then he has played in 91 test matching including four Lions games and scored 58 tries for his country. His sidestep has become world famous and he has the ability to make something out of nothing.

Throughout his career Williams proved that size does not matter, he showed unfathomable skill whenever he got his hands on the ball, he truly is one of a kind.

Williams was humble, he acknowledged that he never owned the number 11 shirt and that he was just 'looking after it for a while' well he certainly looked after it well and put his stamp on it. He has left some big footsteps to follow in but as well as celebrating his fantastic career we are also looking to the future, we don't know who is just around the corner for Wales, after all 12 months ago we didn't know much about George North, and just look where he is now.

It is hard to narrow down to just one favourite moment of his career, there have been so many. You just have to watch one of the many videos on youtube to realise what a consistent player he was.

There isn't one specific moment but rather something that just made Shane, Shane. For me it will always be his side step, his ability to run circles around his opponents and the way he found gaps.

Fortunately for the rugby union world Williams will still play for the Ospreys until at least the end of the 2012/2013 season and is currently considering an offer of extending his contract with the Welsh club until 2014.

Shane Williams it has been a pleasure to watch you play for your country, thank you for the memories and here's to many more as an Ospreys player.

What some of his team mates have said about him

Many of Williams' team mates have taken to twitter to show their appreciation for the player.

George North: "massive honour to have played with Shane Williams. Great bloke and a legend. If I have half the career he has i'll be a happy boy. #hero

Lee Byrne: "In my opinion the greatest ever welsh player, and the best player I have ever played with. #makessomethingoutofnothing

Rhys Priestland: "Shame we couldn't send Shane Williams off with a win. A try with his last touch tho........#1ofakind"

Cai Griffiths: "The guy is a legend

Mike Phillips: "What a true legend