Wales' World Cup elder statesman Shane Williams has hailed the incredible young talent spearhead an unlikely bid for global glory. Williams, who at 34 is the oldest player in Wales' World Cup squad, admits he has been blown away by the performance of a sparkling rising generation throughout the past month.
Players like skipper Sam Warburton, his fellow flanker Dan Lydiate, number eight Toby Faletau, wing George North and centre Scott Williams have all perform pivotal roles in helping Wales secure a semi-final meeting with France next Saturday.
I am one of the most experienced members of the squad and know what World Cups are about,said Ospreys wing Williams, Wales' record Test try-scorer.But it amazes me sometimes how level-headed these youngsters are and how they have taken to it. They haven't got that much practice at international level, but they have self-belief.
Look at the likes of Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Scott Williams.I certainly wasn't that way at their age. The young talent we have got in Wales is great. There is a special breed coming through with a different mind-set.
Sometimes, at big contest, you have to look after the youngsters, but they haven't let the occasion get to them. They are enjoying the experience but know they have got a job to do.We have got a 19-year-old in George. Certainly, at that age, I wouldn't have had a clue and wouldn't have been half as calm.
The Wales squad has settled into their central Auckland base - it is a short walk from the French team hotel - and a sense of calm that has accompany them all contest remains, despite next weekend's colossal stakes.
It's very easy to get carried away,Williams added. Now we are in Auckland, it's a step-up, but we have to treat it as just another game.It's all about winning and trying not to think it is a semi-final. We are a far stronger squad, mentally and actually, than any I have ever been involved in.
I am sure a lot of the players coming through don't care monkeys about records, previous matches, previous scores or previous World Cups.They just want to get through to this cup final and win it.In saying that, they are level-headed enough to know they have not got there yet. We want more; we don't want it to end next to France on Saturday.
Williams claimed more than once before the contest that he felt Wales were good enough to be crown world champions. Despite having made his Test debut 12 years ago and been part of Wales squads through thick and thin, very few outsiders listened to Williams' sage-like words.