Williams, Wales’ record try scorer with 58 in 87 tests, ran in six tries in the 2007 tournament and is now under threat from the fleet-footed Adams.
“I haven’t heard anything from Shane and I wasn’t aware of the record until after the Uruguay game. Now I know I’m one behind him it would be nice if I could move level or, hopefully, even overtake him,” said Adams.
Williams also holds the Welsh record for the most tries at the World Cup with 10 from three tournaments, while the record for a single tournament is eight by the New Zealand wing pair of Jonah Lomu and Julian Savea.
“It would be a nice list to join with those sorts of names on it. Making sure we win the next game is the most important thing, but if I can get tries as well then that’s obviously a bonus,” added Adams.
“I probably didn’t expect to be here a few years ago, but as a squad we’ve worked hard, kept our heads down, done what we’ve been asked to do and earned our place here. It’s brilliant.
“We are really keen to put in an 80-minute performance on Sunday because it’s something we haven’t done yet. That is vitally important for us and we know what it means to everyone back home – it’s a big one, but we are looking forward to it.
“We need to start a bit better than we did against France in Paris in the Six Nations. They came out the blocks pretty well and we found ourselves chasing 16 points at half time.
“We definitely need to start well if we’re going to build into the game. But then again, our spirit in the second half that day was second to none.
“The way we fought back and stuck at it was brilliant and we’ve got that resolve. If we start well, get points on the scoreboard and build a lead, we will settle into the game a little bit quicker.
“This week we’ve all been pretty relaxed – like we are most weeks – and we all know what is at stake this weekend. I don’t think you can work yourself up too early, because you need to play the game on Sunday, not Tuesday.
It has been building slowly, there’s been an edge to us this week, a bit of spike in training, as the forwards can vouch for. There’s been a good mood with everybody and none of us are ready to go home.”
