List of international rugby union tries by Shane Williams

Shane Williams
Shane Williams, pictured in 2008 with his club team, Ospreys

Shane Williams is a Welsh rugby union player who appeared 87 times for the Wales national team from 2000 to 2011.[1] Playing exclusively as a wing for Wales,[1] Williams scored 58 tries, the most for any Wales international and 13 more than second-placed George North. Williams also made four appearances for the British & Irish Lions, three as a wing and one as a centre.[2] Williams scored two tries for the Lions, both from the wing during their victory over South Africa (also known as the 'Springboks') in the third Test of their 2009 tour of South Africa.[2] At his retirement, Williams' 60 international tries placed him third on the worldwide all-time list, trailing Daisuke Ohata of Japan and David Campese of Australia; as of March 2018, he stands fourth, with South Africa's Bryan Habana having surpassed Williams and Campese for second place.[3]

Williams made his international debut on 5 February 2000 against France in the opening round of the 2000 Six Nations Championship at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. His first try for Wales came in the next round of the Six Nations against Italy, also at Millennium Stadium.[4] Williams went on to score tries in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 editions of the World Cup. His final try for Wales came literally at the end of his international career, as he scored on the final play of his last Test on 3 December 2011 against Australia at Millennium Stadium.[5] This try was his 28th at Millennium Stadium, surpassing Rory Underwood of England, with 27 at Twickenham, for the most international tries scored by a player from one of the ten "Tier 1" nations at a single ground. Among players from all nations, Williams is level with Ohata, who scored 28 tries at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo.[6]

Williams holds several other try records, both for Wales and internationally. His 30 tries away from his home country (including those at neutral sites) were the most for any player in history at the time of his retirement,[6] though that record has since been broken by Habana.[7] He leads Wales in tries at home (30), away (21), on neutral ground (7), and in the Rugby World Cup (10).[6] Williams was most prolific against Italy, Japan and Scotland, scoring nine tries against each team; he retired with the record for most tries by an opposing player against each of these nations.[6] He also retired with the most tries by any European player against both Australia (6) and South Africa (5). All of his tries against the Springboks were on South African soil, which at the time of his retirement tied him with New Zealanders Christian Cullen and Joe Rokocoko for the most overall.[6] His six tries against Argentina left him level with France's Serge Blanco and Émile Ntamack for the most by a European player.[6]

Williams has scored multiple tries in a single international match on 14 occasions, including two hat-tricks. The first of these was a four-try effort against Japan at Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka during a 2001 Wales tour.[8] The second was against Argentina at José Amalfitani Stadium in Buenos Aires during Wales' 2004 tour.[9] Williams scored tries against 14 countries, including all of the other nine "Tier 1" nations.[4]

Key

  • Won denotes that the match was won by the side for which Williams was playing.
  • Lost denotes that the match was lost by the side for which Williams was playing.
  • Drawn denotes that the match was drawn.
  • ‡ denotes tries that were scored while playing for the British & Irish Lions.

International tries

International rugby union tries by Shane Williams
Try Opposing team Venue Competition Date Result Score Ref(s).
1  Italy Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 2000 Six Nations Championship 19 February 2000 Won 47–16 [10]
2  Scotland 18 March 2000 Won 26–18 [11]
3
4  Samoa Test match 11 November 2000 Won 50–6 [12]
5
6  Japan Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka 10 June 2001 Won 64–10 [13]
7
8
9
10  Japan Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo 17 June 2001 Won 53–30 [14]
11  Romania Racecourse Ground, Wrexham 27 August 2003 Won 54–8 [15]
12
13  New Zealand Stadium Australia, Sydney 2003 Rugby World Cup 2 November 2003 Lost 37–53 [16]
14  Italy Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 2004 Six Nations Championship 27 March 2004 Won 44–10 [17]
15
16  Argentina José Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires Test match 19 June 2004 Won 35–20 [18]
17
18
19  South Africa Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 26 June 2004 Lost 18–53 [19]
20  Japan Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 26 November 2004 Won 98–0 [20]
21
22  England 2005 Six Nations Championship 5 February 2005 Won 11–9 [21]
23  Italy Stadio Flaminio, Rome 12 February 2005 Won 38–8 [22]
24  Scotland Murrayfield, Edinburgh 13 March 2005 Won 46–22 [23]
25  Australia Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Test match 26 November 2005 Won 24–22 [24]
26  Argentina José Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires 17 June 2006 Lost 27–45 [25]
27  Australia Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 4 November 2006 Drawn 29–29 [26]
28  Canada 17 November 2006 Won 61–26 [27]
29  Italy Stadio Flaminio, Rome 2007 Six Nations Championship 10 March 2007 Lost 20–23 [28]
30  Canada Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes 2007 Rugby World Cup 9 September 2007 Won 42–17 [29]
31
32  Australia Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 15 September 2007 Lost 20–32 [30]
33  Japan 20 September 2007 Won 72–18 [31]
34
35  Fiji Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes 29 September 2007 Lost 34–38 [32]
36  Scotland Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 2008 Six Nations Championship 9 February 2008 Won 30–15 [33]
37
38  Italy 23 February 2008 Won 47–8 [34]
39
40  Ireland Croke Park, Dublin 8 March 2008 Won 16–12 [35]
41  France Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 15 March 2008 Won 29–12 [36]
42  South Africa Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Prince William Cup 7 June 2008 Lost 17–43 [37][38]
43 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 14 June 2008 Lost 21–37 [39]
44  Australia Millennium Stadium, Cardiff James Bevan Trophy 29 November 2008 Won 21–18 [40]
45  Scotland Murrayfield, Edinburgh 2009 Six Nations Championship 8 February 2009 Won 26–13 [41]
46  Italy Stadio Flaminio, Rome 14 March 2009 Won 20–15 [42]
47‡  South Africa Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa 4 July 2009 Won 28–9 [43]
48‡
49  Argentina Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Test match 21 November 2009 Won 33–16 [44]
50
51  Scotland 2010 Six Nations Championship 13 February 2010 Won 31–24 [45]
52  France 26 February 2010 Lost 20–26 [46]
53  Italy 20 March 2010 Won 33–10 [47]
54  Scotland Murrayfield, Edinburgh 2011 Six Nations Championship 12 February 2011 Won 24–6 [48]
55
56  England Twickenham, London Test match 6 August 2011 Lost 19–23 [49]
57  Samoa Waikato Stadium, Hamilton 2011 Rugby World Cup 18 September 2011 Won 17–10 [50]
58  Ireland Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 8 October 2011 Won 22–10 [51]
59  Australia Eden Park, Auckland 21 October 2011 Lost 18–21 [52]
60 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff James Bevan Trophy 3 December 2011 Lost 18–24 [53]

References

  1. ^ a b "Statsguru / Player analysis / Shane Williams / Test matches (primary team: Wales)". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Statsguru / Player analysis / Shane Williams / Test matches (primary team: British and Irish Lions)". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  3. ^ "Statsguru / Test matches / Player records (ordered by total tries scored)". ESPN Scrum. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Statsguru / Player analysis / Shane Williams / Test matches (match by match list)". ESPN Scrum. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  5. ^ Pope, Bruce (3 December 2011). "Wales 18–24 Australia". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 20 December 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Richards, Huw (5 June 2012). "The little winger who left a big impression". ESPN Scrum. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Statsguru, Player Records: tries scored away or at neutral venue (ordered by total tries scored)". ESPN (UK). Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  8. ^ "Match details: Japan–Wales, Osaka, 10 June 2001". ESPN Scrum. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  9. ^ "Match details: Argentina–Wales, Buenos Aires, 19 June 2004". ESPN Scrum. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  10. ^ "Wales bring Italy down to earth". The Irish Times. 19 February 2000. Archived from the original on 11 July 2000. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Winger Williams shines for Wales". The Irish Times. 18 March 2000. Archived from the original on 19 August 2000. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  12. ^ "Wales dazzle Samoans". BBC Sport. 11 November 2000. Archived from the original on 28 February 2003. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  13. ^ "Wales inspired by Williams". BBC Sport. 10 June 2001. Archived from the original on 1 July 2003. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  14. ^ "Nine-try Wales too strong for Japan". BBC Sport. 17 June 2001. Archived from the original on 6 January 2003. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  15. ^ "Wales win at last". BBC Sport. 27 August 2003. Archived from the original on 12 December 2003. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  16. ^ "All Blacks survive Wales scare". BBC Sport. 2 November 2003. Archived from the original on 9 February 2006. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  17. ^ "Wales 44–10 Italy". BBC Sport. 27 March 2004. Archived from the original on 26 July 2004. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  18. ^ Plummer, David (21 June 2004). "Wales doubly primed for Springboks". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  19. ^ "South Africa 53–18 Wales". BBC Sport. 26 June 2004. Archived from the original on 28 June 2004. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  20. ^ "Wales 98–0 Japan". BBC Sport. 26 November 2004. Archived from the original on 29 June 2006. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  21. ^ "Wales 11–9 England". BBC Sport. 5 February 2005. Archived from the original on 17 February 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  22. ^ "Italy 8–38 Wales". BBC Sport. 12 February 2005. Archived from the original on 13 July 2006. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  23. ^ "Scotland 22–46 Wales". BBC Sport. 13 March 2005. Archived from the original on 24 March 2006. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  24. ^ "Wales 24–22 Australia". BBC Sport. 26 November 2005. Archived from the original on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Argentina 45–27 Wales". BBC Sport. 17 June 2006. Archived from the original on 28 November 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  26. ^ "Wales 29–29 Australia". BBC Sport. 4 November 2006. Archived from the original on 19 February 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  27. ^ "Wales 61–26 Canada". BBC Sport. 17 November 2006. Archived from the original on 20 February 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  28. ^ "Italy v Wales". BBC Sport. 10 March 2007. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  29. ^ "Wales 42–17 Canada". BBC Sport. 9 September 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  30. ^ Davies, Sean (15 September 2007). "Wales 20–32 Australia". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  31. ^ Hassan, Nabil (20 September 2007). "Wales 72–18 Japan". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  32. ^ Davies, Sean (29 September 2007). "Wales 34–38 Fiji". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 8 March 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  33. ^ Davies, Sean (9 February 2008). "Wales 30–15 Scotland". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  34. ^ "Wales 47–8 Italy". BBC Sport. 23 February 2008. Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  35. ^ Harlow, Phil (8 March 2008). "Ireland 12–16 Wales". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 10 March 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  36. ^ Davies, Sean (15 March 2008). "Wales 29–12 France". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  37. ^ Roberts, Gareth (7 June 2008). "South Africa 43–17 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  38. ^ "Prince William Cup 2008". ESPN Scrum. Archived from the original on 21 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  39. ^ Dulin, David (14 June 2008). "South Africa 37–21 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  40. ^ Shuttleworth, Peter (29 November 2008). "Autumn Tests 2008". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  41. ^ Dulin, David (8 February 2009). "Scotland 13–26 Wales". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  42. ^ Davies, Sean (14 March 2009). "Italy 15–20 Wales". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 19 March 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  43. ^ Palmer, Bryn (4 July 2009). "South Africa 9–28 Lions". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 22 October 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  44. ^ Pope, Bruce (21 November 2009). "Wales 33–16 Argentina". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  45. ^ Pope, Bruce (13 February 2010). "Wales 31–24 Scotland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  46. ^ Davies, Sean (26 February 2010). "Wales 20–26 France". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  47. ^ Davies, Sean (20 March 2010). "Wales 33–10 Italy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  48. ^ Campbell, Andy (12 February 2011). "Scotland 6–24 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  49. ^ Palmer, Bryn (6 August 2011). "England 23–19 Wales". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  50. ^ Roberts, Gareth (18 September 2011). "Rugby World Cup 2011: Wales 17–10 Samoa". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  51. ^ Roberts, Gareth (8 October 2011). "Rugby World Cup 2011: Wales 22–10 Ireland". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  52. ^ Fordyce, Tom (21 October 2011). "Rugby World Cup 2011: Wales 18–21 Australia". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  53. ^ "Qantas Wallabies finish 2011 in style and retain James Bevan Trophy". Rugby Australia. 4 December 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2018.