WALES V FRANCE:Shane Williams has used his speed and agility to prosper in a game more and more in thrall to bulk and power, writes Paul Rees

IT IS EIGHT years since Shane Williams made his debut for Wales. He came on as a replacement during the defeat by France in the first Six Nations match at the Millennium Stadium and promptly gave away a try. He has more than made up for the blemish since and is one try away from breaking the national record of 40 set last year by Gareth Thomas.

To overtake his friend and former captain Williams will need to do something he has never done before - find his way over France's try-line. Williams has scored five tries this championship, the same as his opposite number this evening, Vincent Clerc, and in the one game in which he did not score, against England at Twickenham, he inspired his team's revival from an insipid start by running a penalty out of his own 22 early in the second half.

It had the effect of jump-starting an engine that until then had refused to turn over and, after rallying from a 13-point deficit, Wales have not looked back. They are 80 minutes from their second Grand Slam in four years.

"Beating England was huge for us, just as it was in the opening game in 2005," said the 31-year-old Williams. "It gave us confidence and meant that we could play with a smile on our faces. We are a much better side when we are happy."

Happiness has been in short supply since the Grand Slam was clinched three years ago against Ireland in Cardiff. Until this season Wales had barely managed a meaningful victory, and they failed to make the knockout stage of the World Cup. Their chances of winning this year's Six Nations, never mind the Grand Slam, were about the same as England's of making last year's World Cup final after being mauled by South Africa in their second pool game.

Williams was one of the few Wales players to return from the World Cup with reputation intact. His try in their final match against Fiji was one of the best in the tournament, a typical mixture of pace, elusiveness, cunning and single-mindedness.

Even Wales's defence coach, Shaun Edwards, not one given to over-reaction, was spotted mouthing, "What a player," by a television camera after the wing's second try against Italy last month.

"He is one of the most exciting players I have ever seen," said Edwards. "I cannot think of many others, in league or union, who can do what he can."

The difference between Wales last year and this is not just that they have tightened their defence but that they are more adept at winning and retaining possession, so their outside backs are seeing plenty of the ball.

"I have been getting the headlines and plaudits for scoring tries but it is all down to the forwards working their socks off," said Williams. "They have been immense this year . . . We have worked harder than ever before under the new management team and it has put a big onus on the pack but they have responded superbly.

"I am not surprised at how quickly things have turned around because there was never any doubting our potential . . . but we are all aware that France pose the biggest threat of all, more even than England at Twickenham."

The Wales head coach, Warren Gatland, said he had given Williams licence to pop up all over the field. It was another New Zealander, Graham Henry, who first capped the wing and, when Williams marked his first international start by scoring a try of rare brilliance against Italy, he became feted publicly, with advertisers queuing to sign a player whose small stature seemed at variance with the increasing physicality of international rugby and therefore heightened his commercial appeal.

Henry warned the media would destroy Williams, who made only one Six Nations appearance in three seasons from 2001. He was chosen for the 2003 World Cup squad only as an afterthought - he was named as the third scrumhalf, the position where he started his career with Neath - and did not make an appearance until the final group match against New Zealand; chosen on the wing, he gave a virtuoso display. Only injury has kept him out of the side since.

"There are similarities between Graham and Warren," said Williams. "They both place a big emphasis on discipline and know how to get the best out of players but they have different personalities and traits. They both made an immediate difference."

Unusually for a wing, he seems to get quicker with age.

"It would mean everything to me to break the Wales try record and I would like to go on to become the first player to reach 50," he said. "Alfie (Gareth Thomas) is a great friend of mine and to be mentioned in the same breath as him, Ieuan Evans, Gerald Davies and Gareth Edwards I find incredible."