If Warren Gatland needed any further references about Keiran Williams’ international job prospects, then he has got them from two double Grand Slam winners boasting more than 150 Wales caps between them.
Shane Williams and Tom Shanklin both believe the young Ospreys centre should be viewed as a starter for the Six Nations.
The No. 12 had a whale of a game for his region against Leinster on Saturday evening, walking away with the man-of-the-match accolade despite his team’s 24-19 defeat. According to the first draft of statistics, he beat 11 defenders during the course of nine runs that yielded 73 metres for his side. There were also 15 tackles.
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The effort in Swansea continued the purple patch of form he has been in since returning from injury.
And later pundits Shane and Shanks were agreed that he should be viewed not just as Wales squad material but as a candidate for the run-on team.
Asked on Viaplay Sports how Gatland should consider the Neath-born player, Shane replied: “Potentially a starter. Why not?
“We’ve been talking about the centre channel and who we are going to use. We’ve used different combos.
“Owen Watkin’s a great player for the Ospreys as well, but we are waiting for him to take that step up.
“But Keiran Williams is playing regularly now and he’s doing this week-in, week-out. And he has the right attitude. I think he’s the kind of player and personality to bring that with him to the international field.
“He’s the kind of player Gats likes as well.”
Williams continued: “Gats liked a big, barnstorming, gain-line, crashball centre like Jamie Roberts.
“Keiran Williams does all that except he’s not 6ft 5in.
“It doesn’t really matter.
“The fact that he is short probably helps him because he runs so hard that it’s difficult to get low on him — and he’s quick. By the time you’ve dropped that shoulder ready to put him down, he’s almost past you. If you got hold of him, he’d pump those legs until he’s past the gain-line. Rugby is all about getting over that gain-line and getting quick ball.
“You have George North at 13 who plays regularly with Keiran as well. It’s not a bad combo to have.
“Warren Gatland is the kind of coach who picks players if they deserve it.
“And there’s no more deserving player than Keiran Williams at the moment.”
Also on Viaplay, Shanklin said after the Leinster game: “I think he’s played himself into the squad with that performance.
“It’s a load of performances, as well, not just a one-off.
“Ever since he’s got back from his injury, he’s performed really well.
“If Wales want gain-line, there’s no better player in Welsh rugby to give you that.
“He runs like a man who’s just broken out of prison.
"He just gives everything every single time he collects the ball. He’s difficult to put down because he has a low centre of gravity, he keeps the legs pumping, he keeps twisting and turning.
“He’s played the best in the French league in Montpellier and stood out. He’s played the best in the URC in Leinster and stood out.
“So there’s something special about him.”
Shanklin said the next step was for Williams to add to his game, with the modern-day inside centre requiring ‘subtle touches, a passing game and vision’. But he also rated his chances of being propelled up the pecking order for the Six Nations, saying: “Look, I think he will start at 12.”
Ospreys skipper Justin Tipuric echoed the chorus of praise, saying: “Keiran’s been on fire. He’s been on fire for a number of years.
“He’s not the biggest, but, jeepers, he packs a punch.
“He’s massive for us.”
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