Deadly duo not prepared to wait on the wings

Paul Reeslooks forward to the clash between the two wingers who are probably the deadliest finishers in the world today

THERE ARE two very good reasons why the roof on the Millennium Stadium should be firmly closed today, keeping out the product of a typical November day in Wales: Shane Williams and Bryan Habana. The two wings are probably the deadliest finishers in the world today, having scored 74 tries between them in 101 Tests. They are players who justify the increasing cost of admission.

Habana was last year's International Rugby Board player of the year after his eight tries helped South Africa win the World Cup, while Williams is one of the five nominees for 2008 after scoring six tries in Wales's grand slam success, making the difference in tight matches.

They are opportunists, roaming the field rather than waiting on their wing for a pass. Although they have both been named on the left wing tomorrow, their habit of looking for the ball will cause a confrontation at some point.

That happened in Bloemfontein last summer when Williams, with his trademark kick-step, left Habana on the turf. It was one of few moments to remember for Wales. The Ospreys wing, who is mild and unassuming off the field, let rip with a verbal volley, shouting: "Mismatch, mismatch."

Habana was out of earshot in the second Test, in Pretoria, when Williams made fools of five defenders as he scored one of the best individual tries of the year.

"I shouted at Bryan because I was so frustrated at our performance," said Williams. "Banter is part of rugby - when I started, Austin Healey mouthed me out of a game at Twickenham. There is nothing personal in it and I spoke to Bryan afterwards. He knows he is a player I have the utmost respect and regard for. Just to be mentioned in the same breath as him is an honour."

The pair form a mutual appreciation society. "Shane is a fantastic player and he deserves to be up for the IRB award," said Habana. "He has given rugby some very exciting moments in the last six or seven years and it is always a good measuring stick when you come up against him. He was a bit pumped up on the field in South Africa this year, but he is the perfect gentleman off the park. I have looked at tapes of him playing for the Ospreys this season and he is great to watch."

Williams has had a prolific year, scoring at least once in each of his last six Tests, a Wales record. He has failed to score in one of his last 11 internationals. Habana's only try in 2008 came against New Zealand in the Tri-Nations. He suffered as South Africa struggled with the experimental law variations, but Wales will kick loosely at their peril tomorrow.

Habana and Williams are a contrasting pair. The former, at 25, has turbo-charged pace. He made his name with a series of long-range interception tries: once free, no one was going to catch him. Williams relies more on deception, changing his pace and sidestepping in the manner of Gerald Davies, contorting his body away from challengers. But they share one characteristic which singles out the very best: a single-mindedness when they see the tryline. It is that blend of desire and ability that makes them so prolific.

"Shane Williams is a player who keeps defences honest," said the South Africa backs coach, Dick Muir. "He is agile, has great pace off the mark, a strong left foot that he exploits effectively and he sniffs out space, targeting big forwards to run past in broken play. Bryan is a similar opportunist and both players get themselves into good positions. They do not hang around on their wing and they both have qualities unique to themselves. They are certainly among the best finishers around and while Williams is at an age when wings are not normally in their prime, he is using his experience to deadly advantage, reading games well and working out in advance where there will be space."

The Wales outhalf, Stephen Jones, believes Wales' fate tomorrow will hinge on how often they get the ball to Williams. "Shane has fantastic footwork, while Habana has genuine speed," he said. "Shane is quick off the mark and elusive and works off his wing well. We have to get Shane and Leigh Halfpenny on the other wing into the game early. That is our strength and our quality."

Jean de Villiers, the South Africa centre, acknowledges the importance of Williams to Wales. "He is not their only danger man, but we will certainly be watching him. The try he scored in Pretoria a few months ago showed the quality of the man. The fact Bryan has won the IRB award and Shane Williams is in line to get it says everything about them. The law variations mean there is a lot more kicking . . . and that presents more opportunities for wings."

Williams and Habana will line up on the same side next month, for the Barbarians against Australia at Wembley. Habana offered to move wings. "We have faced each other on a few occasions, so to be on the same side as him will be special," said Habana. "I am delighted he is going to be part of the set-up and I hope we will both bring a lot more excitement to world rugby in the years to come."

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