Shane Williams sparked a Welsh comeback against New Zealand at the World Cup in 2003. He had already set up team-mate Sonny Parker with an electric run before he danced his way between would-be tacklers over the line for one of his own to give Wales a 37-33 lead in a game where they had trailed 28-10. They would run out of steam late in the second half, though, the match finishing 53-37 Photograph: Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images
In Wales's first victory over Australia in 18 years, Shane Williams scored a vital try after a kick-and-go with Gareth Thomas. Williams's grubber kick arrived in the hands of Thomas, his team-mate returning it immediately for the wing who out-sprinted Lote Tuqiri to the line Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Once again Williams was the hero in a famous 11-9 victory over England to secure the Grand Slam in 2005, giving Wales a 5-0 lead early on when he gathered the ball on the left before rounding the final English defender
Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images
Another great try arrived in the same Grand Slam campaign against Italy – though this time it was his team-mates doing the hard work – Martyn Williams and replacement Kevin Morgan making excellent offloads to put Williams in position to cross the line in a 38-8 victory Photograph: Phil Noble/PA Archive
A try many regard as Williams's best in the red of Wales arrived when he burst down the right flank and shimmied past a clutch of Fiji defenders, going 80 yards before launching himself into the air as he touched down between the posts in style. It wasn't enough to help Wales avoid defeat, however Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Showing that he can be strong as well as quick, Williams shrugged off a tackle from the much larger Andrew Trimble as he burst through a gap down the right sideline and across the line during a 16-12 victory at Croke Park Photograph: David Jones/PA Archive
Williams snatched up the a loose ball after South Africa mishandled at the breakdown, sprinting down the left and fooling the world champions' defenders as he dummied inside before touching down in the corner Photograph: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP/Getty Images
After first having to sprint back towards his own half to gather an Argentina grubber kick near halfway, Williams simply turned and sprinted through a gap in the opposition line and all the way back for a score. His effort would be nominated for the IRPA try of the year award Photograph: Steven Paston/Action Images
A half-hearted kicked clearance from France – perhaps expecting play to be stopped for a knock-on – allowed Shane Williams to get a running start down the left wing. After eluding Sebastian Chabal he hurdled another would-be tackler before finally touching down with less than a minute left in the game Photograph: Paul Harding/Action Images
It may not up be up there with the eye-pleasing runs that have led to some of his great runs, but for sheer drama this try will be remembered. Wales had trailed by 10 points late on, yet had recovered to 24-24 as the game entered stoppage time, at which point Williams drifted in from the left before running onto a pass to squeeze through a gap in the Scottish defence underneath the posts Photograph: David Davies/PA Archive
