Six Nations: Triple Crown try was blur, admits Welsh hero Scott Williams

Wales’ Twickenham hero Scott Williams says returning to training has brought him “back to reality”, and admits his recollection of his match-winning score against England remains a blur.

With Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations contest evenly poised at 12-12 with four minutes to play, substitute Williams stole the ball from England second-row Courtney Lawes on halfway and kicked ahead before gathering it for the decisive touchdown.

The try made the 21-year-old a national hero and it is certain to go down in Welsh rugby folklore as it sealed Wales’ 20th Triple Crown and the first secured on English soil.

Williams said: “Ripping the ball is something we have been working on in training

“You have to be sharp and quick to rip the ball out, which is what we’ve worked on. He [Lawes] was concentrating on getting tackled by [Wales captain Sam] Warburton and I came in and caught him by surprise.

“It was a bit of a blur after that – I don’t know why I kicked it. I think I did it because I was going to get tackled, and I just got a lucky bounce.

“You can kind of judge the bounce a bit, but I just had a feeling it was going to bounce up and it did. The next thing I knew I was over the line.”

The try came shortly after Williams failed to spot full-back Leigh Halfpenny in support after he had broken through the English defence, costing Wales a certain try, and he admits he has been reminded of his error by coaches and team-mates alike.

“We have had analysis on it,” he said. “I had a quick glimpse, but it happened so fast. That’s international rugby and hopefully I can learn from that, but in the moment it’s a bit different.”

Just 12 months ago, the Carmarthen-born three-quarter was plying his trade in the semi- professional Welsh Premiership for Llanelli, but, once he was given his chance with the Scarlets, he quickly caught the eye of Wales coach Warren Gatland and secured a place at the World Cup in New Zealand.

“The last year has been on fast forward really,” said Williams. “I had a few chances at the Scarlets and managed to take them. I managed to get on the plane to the World Cup and it has gone from there.”

Jamie Roberts’ knee injury gave Williams his chance to be a hero on Saturday and, with the Cardiff Blues man struggling to recover in time to face Italy next weekend, Williams could be in line for a first Six Nations start.

He said: “It’s not up to me. Jamie has been playing well and I will just be over the moon to be involved against Italy.

“I was on the bench last weekend, but just being part of winning the Triple Crown was one of the biggest things I’ve done in my career. It would be a dream, but it is back to reality today as we have got plenty to work on.”