LIAM WILLIAMS is expecting a “war” when Wales take on Ireland in Dublin today.
The Wales wing will make his first appearance in this Six Nations campaign after recovering from a troublesome groin injury.
And the 26-year-old is expecting a rough ride from the Irish players he became mates with on the Lions tour to New Zealand.
With Ireland eyeing a Grand Slam and Wales desperate to get back on track after an unlucky defeat to England, Williams said the Aviva Stadium will be no place for faint hearts.
He said: “It could feel strange going up against the likes of Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton after playing shoulder to shoulder with them for the Lions — but you can’t afford to think like that once the whistle goes.
“I started calling Johnny ‘Coach’ in New Zealand, because he was always telling me what to do, and which angles he wanted me to run!
“He and Conor are world-class players and I’m looking forward to the aerial battle against them, because we can be pretty certain they will use that tactic to try to probe for weaknesses.
“They are great blokes, and to be fair, all the Irish boys were terrific on the Lions tour. I really enjoyed spending some time with them and I’m looking forward to seeing them all again.
“Hopefully we’ll have a war in the afternoon — and then have a couple of pints together in the evening!”
Williams was proving his fitness with new club Saracens while Wales were losing 12-6 at Twickenham, but made certain of a return by scoring a stunning try against Newcastle.
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He admits that he was kicking himself for not deciding to have an immediate operation when his groin problem began nearly four months ago. He added: “It has been a really frustrating time for me. I have only played three games in the last 13-14 weeks — and it is one of the worst injuries I have had in terms of how long I have been out.
“In a way it was worse than when I broke my foot just before the last World Cup.
“Obviously it was soul-destroying to miss that tournament as I was out for about 12 weeks but at least with that kind of injury you sort of know how long you will be out for.
“We had to play it by ear with this, because it was difficult to say how serious it was. I don’t even know how it happened to be honest.
“During the Georgia game I felt a pain in my groin, I came off, then had a couple of scans, and I was pretty relieved to be told I did not necessarily need to undergo an operation.
“The option to have surgery was actually discussed — and, looking back, it may have been better to have had the op and be out for just six weeks, — rather than come back after eight, play one game and then be out for another four.
“But hindsight is a wonderful thing . . . I haven’t had anything like this before.
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“Rugby players don’t tend to get this kind of injury — it is much more common among footballers. It is not a contact injury, just to do with the muscle.
“I’ve worked hard with the medical staff to get back on the pitch again as quickly as I have after the initial setback and I can’t thank them enough.
“Actually, a win today would be the ideal thank you.”
RORY BEST is adamant Ireland team-mate Johnny Sexton will be ready for Wales — even if his age is catching up with him!
Sexton had treatment on his lower back in yesterday’s “captain’s run” training session at the Aviva ahead of today’s Six Nations clash in Dublin.
But the Leinster ace, 32, rejoined the group and was later pictured kicking at goal.
And skipper Best, three years his senior, said: “He was grand, it’s just he’s just getting a bit older, so he needed a bit longer to warm up!
“But he came into the tail end of the session. He let the subs run at the start and then the starters finished off. No concerns.”
Sexton endured a difficult outing last time around against Wales, in the 22-9 defeat in Cardiff last March.
He kicked all of Ireland’s points but was taken off the pitch for a Head Injury Assessment after colliding with Jonathan Davies’ knee, sin-binned for killing the ball and then had a kick charged down for Wales’ third try.
Ireland have won nine Tests in a row since then and Best wants his side to go in for the kill against Wales to make it ten.
Best said: “Whoever sits back is going to be on the losing side.
“This is a game where you have to go out and take your opportunities and take them with both hands.”
Today will be a big challenge for Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Dan Leavy, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki and Jacob Stockdale — all have six or fewer Test caps for Ireland.
Best added: “I don’t think you can ever predict how someone is going to react in the Test arena — the big thing is we trust them.”
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