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Tiatia: Williams will be a huge success in Japan

Tiatia: Williams will be a huge success in Japan

Former Ospreys favourite Filo Tiatia reckons former team-mate Shane Williams will enjoy a glittering finale in Japan.

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The Welsh record try-scorer scrapped his retirement plans earlier this month to take up a six-month contract with Mitsubishi Dynaboars.

He made a try-scoring debut for the second division Japanese club on Saturday, and Tiatia, a coach at Top League side Toyota Verblitz reckons he can have a huge impact in the Far East.

“Of course he’ll do well. He’ll make it work because he’s one of a kind, a tremendously professional athlete who works as hard as anyone.

“There’ll be an adjustment phase when he tries to pick up bits of the language and is adapting to those around him.
“But the conditions are ideally suited to Shane’s game.

“The grounds are firmer and a player who is quick on his feet with a step like he has will be able to exploit them.”

The big-hitting back-rower is enjoying his own success in Japan having earned a promotion to become Verblitz’ new head coach.

The club have already snapped up All Blacks World Cup winner Jerome Kaino and the former Osprey cannot wait to get stuck into the new season.

“I’m pretty excited about the season,” added Tiatia. “There are some good players in Japan and the standard is rising all the time. I’d compare the Top League to the provincial championship in New Zealand. It isn’t on a par with the Pro12 but the more good players arrive, the better it will become.”

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