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17:39 GMT, Friday, 31 October 2008

Williams happy with two masters

Shane Williams will start at Madejski Stadium

Wales and Ospreys wing Shane Williams says it has been a good week's training despite having to split time between his country and his regional side.

The Welsh Rugby Union won a High Court ruling to ensure player release to prepare for the 8 November Test against South Africa in Cardiff.

But Williams is also happy to play in Sunday's EDF Cup match at London Irish.

"Yeah it's great, I think personally I want to play every game I possibly can," Williams told BBC Sport Wales.

"I think it's the same with the other lads. You know, the more rugby for me the better as long as I'm not getting injured on that field.

"And I jumped at the chance when I was asked, you know when I was asked if I was available for this game at the weekend and of course I am.

"Not only that I want to be available for next week as well so, yeah, it's good to see the boys are willing to play this week prior to big international game.

"It just goes to show the hunger they've got and the willingness to do what they're doing for the Ospreys and I'm all for that."

Defending champions the Ospreys will field 11 Wales squad members against London Irish in a game that will help decide who from Group C advances to the semi-finals.

Williams, Gavin Henson, James Hook, Adam Jones, Huw Bennett Ian Evans and Ian Gough all start in Reading, with Richard Hibbard, Ryan Jones, Dan Biggar and Andrew Bishop on the bench.

Full-back Lee Byrne, prop Duncan Jones and lock Alun Wyn Jones are the only three of the Ospreys' Wales contingent to be rested.

Despite spending the first half of the week with Warren Gatland's Wales squad before returning to their regions, Williams says the players have not suffered adversely.

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"Obviously there's a problem maybe with different calls and everything but I think the boys are used to that now you know, 'tooing' back and for and it's just different," Williams added.

"I think we know now that, we certainly know as far as the Ospreys are concerned what we need to do to win this game.

"We worked hard prior to this week anyway leading up to this, we had today (Friday) and tomorrow to go through our patterns and everything and I think we're ready.

"Obviously a couple of days up in Wales as well, it was nice to get up there just have a little remembrance of the calls and the patterns up there as well and hopefully that means that we're going to be ready for South Africa as well, so let's hope we can win both games."



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Related to this story:

Ospreys select 11 of Wales squad (31 Oct 08 |  Welsh )
Cardiff Blues v Bath (Fri) (30 Oct 08 |  Rugby Union )
Northampton v Scarlets (30 Oct 08 |  Rugby Union )
London Irish v Ospreys (Sun) (29 Oct 08 |  Rugby Union )
Wasps v Dragons (Sun) (31 Oct 08 |  Rugby Union )
EDF Energy Anglo-Welsh Cup 2008/9 (19 Jun 08 |  Rugby Union )
EDF Energy (Anglo-Welsh) Cup Tables (09 Aug 06 |  Tables )
Anglo-Welsh Cup archive (24 Jul 06 |  Welsh )
BBC Sport Wales coverage (28 Oct 08 |  Wales )

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