Jamie Roberts has named legendary winger Shane Williams as the best player he has shared a pitch with.
Roberts announced his retirement from professional rugby on Tuesday night, bringing the curtain down on a glittering 15-year career that saw him win 97 caps at Test level, including appearances on British and Irish Lions tours.
The 35-year-old has since been reflecting on some of the highlights of his career. In a column for the Daily Mail, Roberts has looked back on some of the toughest opponents he faced during his playing career, as well as paying tribute to those he feels were responsible for aiding his tremendous success.
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He names South African legend Jean de Villiers and New Zealand great Ma'a Nonu as his toughest opponents. Shane Williams also comes into that category after the pair faced off during their respective times at Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys - but he's also named as the finest player Roberts has been on a pitch with.
That really is saying something, considering the galaxy of greats he's lined up alongside or faced.
Of Shane, Roberts writes: "The best player I’ve been on a pitch with. Those little ’uns were tough to catch!
"Fortunately we were on the same team more often than not."
Roberts says de Villiers, whom he first faced 14 years ago, was a big influence on the ex-Cardiff star's career.
Speaking about the former South African captain, who won an 109 caps for his country, Roberts said: "My first Wales game at 12 was against Jean. Loftus in 2008.
"We played in a similar way and were a similar build. He was a real stalwart who I looked up to."
He also names Nonu, a key part of the All Blacks side that lifted the World Cup in 2011 and 2015, among his toughest opponents. He is regarded as one of the greatest centres of all time.
"He had this low centre of gravity that allowed him to change his point of contact so late," says Roberts. "You think you’d have a shot but, bang, he was gone."
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