Keep your eyes on sparky 'little' guys

Shane Williams (above) and Jason Robinson, at 1.73m and 84kg, will form one of the smallest wing pairings in modern memory. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Statistics can be desperately misleading. Then again, in some instances they have huge relevance.

Take Shane Williams, the sparky little flyer Sir Clive Woodward has turned to to provide an attacking edge in tomorrow night's second test.

At 1.70m and 77kg, physically he's not likely to scare anyone.

But his shortcomings, so to speak, are also his biggest weapon: the ability to evade the big bruisers, speed of foot and elusiveness which have led to an excellent try-scoring record.

Another statistic: take a look at his tries per tests ratio. Since making his debut for Wales five years ago - and it has been an in-and-out career, according to his form and the whims of coaches including Graham Henry and Steve Hansen - there have been 24 tries in 29 internationals.

That's a terrific record in anyone's language. Three of them came in Wales' Grand Slam triumph this year.

The question mark over Williams has never been his ability to skip around tackles or to provide some zip to an attacking line, but more his defensive talent.

"It's something I've certainly worked on. My defence is probably better than ever - and it might not show, but I am bigger than I've ever been," he said.

Williams and Jason Robinson, himself at 1.73m and 84kg, will form one of the smallest wing pairings in modern memory.

But if the idea of tangling with what he calls "the big lumpers" might not be every small man's idea of fun, Williams relishes the challenge.

"Unfortunately New Zealand is full of big, strong, fast wingers. Rico Gear [his opponent tomorrow night] has been one of the form wingers this year.

"But at the end of the day, games like the All Blacks are the games I thrive on.

"You're competing against some of the best in the world. To be able to defend against these players and have a go at them gives you a great buzz."

Williams scored a try in Wales' gallant loss to the All Blacks at the 2003 World Cup, a thriller in which the Welsh caught their opponents off guard and were not seen off until the final stages.

He is one of five Welshmen in tomorrow's test who played in the 26-25 loss in Cardiff last November.

Any Welshman worth his salt will insist they should have won.

Maybe, but the point is that Williams' experiences of the All Blacks are generally positive.

That attitude is what the Lions need in spades after last Saturday's dismal first test display in Christchurch.

At a time when there are questions over whether players Williams laughingly refers to as "midgets" have a place in the modern game, he likes to think he and Robinson, and Frenchman Christophe Dominici, have proved a point.

"Jason's not much bigger than me and look what he's done.

"I hope I am an inspiration [to smaller players].

"I'd like to think I am."

On a tour desperately short of standout individual displays, Williams bagged five tries against Manawatu on Tuesday.

Maybe as importantly, he played with verve and a thirst for work which caught the eye of many an onlooker.

He was disappointed to miss the first test, but kept his chin up and has his reward.

"That night did help. But I've worked hard on this tour, I didn't let my head drop when I was left out of the first test.

"I've trained and played with a smile on my face and kept chipping at it.

"Now I want to go out, enjoy myself and not let anybody down."

Williams' view is the bigger the stage the more he appreciates the challenge.

"And what better game to perform in and play well than against the best international team in the world at the moment. How exciting is that?"

Shane Williams

Height 1.70m
Weight 77kg
Born: February 26, 1977, Morriston, Wales
Position: Wing
Test debut: v France, February 2000
Tests: 29
Tries: 24
Club: Neath Swansea Ospreys