Williams Grand Slam XV 65 Justin Marshall World XV 57
The five-figure crowd were treated to a feast of 19 tries from the star-studded sides with the main man entirely appropriately getting the first and last of his side’s 10 tries.
Williams, Wales’s record Test try scorer with 41 in 56 internationals, turned on the style to delight the fans who had turned out in their thousands to pay tribute to the wing wizard.
“That was the most open game I have ever played in – I hope the supporters enjoyed it as much as we did,” he said. “It was an incredible day and I feel truly humbled.”
Justin Marshall’s all-stars shot 14 points clear in less than five minutes with Ceri Sweeney getting the first of his three tries and England’s fastest rising star Ben Foden the next.
It prompted Williams to produce one of his 50-metre ‘specials’, leaving defenders grasping at thin air, with the points ultimately coming at two a minute in an hour-long spectacular of 122 points.
Ian Gough, Dafydd James, Tom Shanklin and Bradley Davies got the other first half tries for Williams’s Grand Slammers with Elvis Seveali’I and Scott Morgan crossing for Marshall’s cosmopolitan side.
The second half was more of the same with Filo Tiatia, Morgan, Paul Emerick and Sweeney (2) adding further tries for Marshall’s men with Jamie Roberts (2), Tom James, Shanklin and centre of attention Williams crossing for coach Warren Gatland’s team.
SCORERS
Shane’s team:
Tries: Shane Williams (2), Tom Shanklin (2), Jamie Roberts (2), Ian Gough, Dafydd James, Bradley Davies, Tom James
Cons: Tom James (2), Adam Jones, Shane Williams, Tom Shanklin, Jamie Roberts
Drop Goal: Tom James
Justin’s team:
Tries: C Sweeney (3), Scott Morgan (2), B Foden, E Seveali’I, Filo Tiatia, Paul Emerick
Cons: Ceri Sweeney (2), Filo Tiatia (2), Justin Marshall, Justin Va’a
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
