Is anyone else disappointed that Shane didn't continue one more season?

I know he is in the twilight of his career and that Wales need to look to replacements at some point, but I think he still has the magic- not many wingers could have made those Australian defenders look ordinary. The only two wingers Wales have IMO who compare to him are Halfpenny and North, and Halfpenny seems better placed as Full back at the moment. I honestly think that our 6 nations squad will be weaker without him. Your thoughts- both Wales and non-Wales fans?

I am an Irishman but always had the greatest respect for Shane Williams. That said, i do believe that he is retiring at te right time. Better that players like this call time on their own career than risk playing on and having someone else decide for them.

irfon17 wrote:I know he is in the twilight of his career and that Wales need to look to replacements at some point, but I think he still has the magic- not many wingers could have made those Australian defenders look ordinary. The only two wingers Wales have IMO who compare to him are Halfpenny and North, and Halfpenny seems better placed as Full back at the moment. I honestly think that our 6 nations squad will be weaker without him. Your thoughts- both Wales and non-Wales fans?

The game was done and dusted, irfon. They were just being kind. Don't forget we shipped quite a few points through the Wales defence... one down Shane's side.

Great player though. I do believe he would have had a year or two left in him... but everyone (including himself) believes that now is the time to hang up the size 5s.

The game was done and dusted but i am yet to meet an Aussie that was kind when winning. They did not want Wales to score tries. It was a well taken try and a very fitting send off.

It was a classic send-off and he simply bamboozled the defence with that initial jink to get through the line. After that he only had to stroll 10-15m unopposed.

Aren't all nations like that though? I've never met any team who was kind when winning on the field.

You may be better placed to comment on Australian mentality than I Linebreaker, but from what I have experienced of the Aussie sporting spirit is that it is fiercely competitive (hence the country punching above it's weight in just about any sport one cares to mention).

With this in mind I find it very hard to believe that the two Australian defenders in question (the 1st who was bamboozled by the jink, the second who tried his best but could only get fingertips to Shane duing his 15m 'unopposed stroll') would allow an opposition player to score against them for sentimental reasons.

I think we may have a situation where a player's interests and his country's interests diverge, Shane interested in bowing out with his legendary status intact, whereas Wales would be better of with his services for one more season.

Of course not. No sentimental reason to let him slip through... they were more than likely tiring and let their guard slip as the 80 minutes approached.

It would have been a truly epic send-off if that was the winning try but alas; they fell just short.

who know, but if we have a glut of injuries we may find warren begging shane to come back for one more 6n.

i hope not. i want to see a back three of stoddy, 1/2p and north in action this spring.

still, i am sorry we wont have shane anymore.

Well, on Saturday he was well handled by the Sarries defence, but every time he touched the ball there was a collective holding of breath just in case something magic happened. Wasn't his night though - having said that, the Os fullback looked very dangerous with ball in hand, so could be a good one for Wales's future (letting 1/2p revert to the wing).

Nope, the most miserable and unsporting individual around. Good riddance.

bathmad wrote:Nope, the most miserable and unsporting individual around. Good riddance.

and he was cr4p.

Fiver says Shane changes his mind and is back by the 6N.....

roddersm wrote:Fiver says Shane changes his mind and is back by the 6N.....

Shane who?

Better to retire whilst being remembered as a great, don't want to fall from grace and have everyone remember you for making mistakes and being past your best. Shane's still a cracking player and should the O's forwards not be done over (like they were vs Sarries) then he'll be a threat still.

If he didn't retire when he did,(on top)of his game when would he have retired? He has had a good 13years or so at the top of his carrer for Wales and for the Ospreys.

I have no doubt that Wales will miss him more than he will miss Wales.

Let him play his last days out at the Ospreys, and then let reitire gracefully.

Luckily we have players to take over from him...!

As an Ospreys and Eng fan..............er NO!

maestegmafia wrote:Luckily we have players to take over from him...!

Unfortunately apart from George North and Halfpenny i don't think we have any international standard wingers.

I´m sure he´s disappointed to not be playing any more. You can´t just stop your love of the game or your desire to score tries. But if not the man himself, who else is a better judge of knowing the right time to hang up the boots. Another great player to do so Johnny Wilkinson made the World Cup his end goal and who could begrudge such a fantastic player that. Shane seems to be in better shape than Wilkinson but he knows what his body is saying to him.

One of my heroes growing up was John Kirwan. It used to sicken me how my home town one-eyed Canterbury crowd booed him when he played at Lancaster Park late in his career. He wasn´t the same player by then but he was still a legend that deserved better than that. Who can begrudge Shane for leaving on a high note with his try against Australia (even though Wales lost).

I am very happy for Shane Williams. He is still playing terrific and is going on his own terms. For a great sportsman who we have all enjoyed wartching, what more could we wish for him? And he had that one last special match at home. Great stuff!

He could still perform but if his hearts not in it then he knows himself that it's time.

Why is he packing it in when he still scores so easily?

Gatts wrote:Why is he packing it in when he still scores so easily?

Age. and Pride.

I think he got the timing just right. He was past his best at any rate, no point in sullying a great legacy and being more of a liability for your country with poor form.

Knowsit17 wrote:I think he got the timing just right. He was past his best at any rate, no point in sullying a great legacy and being more of a liability for your country with poor form.

I just think he stlll has many more tries to score for Wales

No he has been on a downward spiral since 2003. If anything he went on for a season too long. It is time for him to go we got some great young talent coming through most notably 1/2p and North.

1/2 and north are hardly 'coming through' they are well entrenched. Shane scores at will, no other winger does that for Wales.

He doesn't score at will, don't be stupid.

If Shane scores at will perhaps he should have done it against Australia before the 80th minute and should have scored a try at Wembley vs Saracens?

Shane Williams should retire. He is too short to play Rugby.........

That's what makes him a great finisher though. He has to take twice as many steps as any other winger to get around the defence.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:He doesn't score at will, don't be stupid.

Stupid? Is that the extent of your analysis. Pretty impotent reply and offers nothing at all; if you are going to take my remark literally then, Luckless don't be such a fool. By comparison with other Welsh backs Shane can score from pretty much anywhere and can beat numerous defenders to do so. No other Welsh player does/has done that for years. 58/87 speaks for itself

Shane could have kept going for another year, but I guess he thought life's too short...

Gatts, my apologies for taking 'Shane scores at will' to mean, er, Shane scores at will.

Is anyone else disappointed that Shane didn't continue one more season?

No I'd much rather have Brew on the wing

It's best to leave your audience wanting that little bit more.

I hope BOD gets the chance to do the same in due course.