Williams stepping his way to a record

Wales winger Shane Williams is only two tries away from claiming the all-time Welsh try-scoring record.

Wales winger Shane Williams is only two tries away from claiming the all-time Welsh try-scoring record.

Williams has scored an incredible 10 tries in his last seven Tests and he heads to Ireland this weekend needing just one more to equal Gareth Thomas' national record of 40.

While it took Thomas 100 Tests to set the mark, Williams will win only his 55th cap at Croke Park on Saturday.

“I think as an all-round player, I'm playing the best rugby of my career,” said Williams, who scored twice in each of Wales' Six Nations victories over Scotland and Italy.

“I love scoring tries, at the end of the day it's my job. I'm seen as the team's striker.

“The record is at the back of my mind. I'm not worrying too much about it. I'll wait for it to come my way and take the chance.

“It's not a bad record to have though and it would be a honour to surpass Gareth Thomas, who is a great player, a great friend and a true legend.

“And it'll be a great thing to tell the kids in 10 to 15 years.”

Williams' second try against Italy, when an explosion of pace carried him from the half-way line past four Azzurri defenders, left the Wales coaching staff purring.

“What a player, what a player,” Shaun Edwards shouted from the stands.

Williams' tries have helped Wales make an unbeaten start to the Six Nations championship and a first win in Dublin since 2000 would seal the Triple Crown, leaving only France in between the Welsh and a second Grand Slam in four years.

Even if Wales go down to the improving Irish, who appear to have climbed out of their World Cup slump, they remain in the box seat to claim the Six Nations title.