Wales' Williams has first shot at record try tally

Before Brian O'Driscoll gets a crack at equalling the ancient try-scoring record in the International Championship that was (the Six Nations that is) at Murrayfield tomorrow, Shane Williams will have the opportunity to match or even surpass it in Rome this afternoon.

Having bagged a brace in Wales' 24-6 victory against Scotland at Murrayfield a fortnight ago, Williams now has 22 tries in the competition, one fewer than O'Driscoll and two shy of the record tally held since 1933 by Scotland's Ian Smith.

The odds are that the Ospreys wing will cross the opposition whitewash in the Stadio Flaminio at least once today – on the occasion of his 34th birthday. Williams has scored nine tries in eight Tests against Italy and has not drawn a blank against them since 2006. And, of course, he will be lining up this time against an Italian team looking to urgently plug some defensive holes after shipping 59 points against England at Twickenham a fortnight ago.

Williams, who intends to retire from international rugby after the World Cup in the autumn, said: "I try not to dwell on records too much, but I am as hungry as ever. I would like to think I still have a few tries in me. I am still getting the buzz and feeling just as sharp out on the field."