Wales star Martyn Williams has admitted his Heineken Cup penalty shoot-out agony was "surreal" and "horrible", but has thanked fans and colleagues for their messages of support.
Williams' miss – and Leicester No8 Jordan Crane's subsequent successful kick – meant the Tigers beat Cardiff Blues 7-6 on penalties and booked their place in the Heineken Cup final on 23 May. It was the first time a major rugby union match has been decided in such fashion, and followed extra-time with the teams level 26-26.
Williams cut a distraught figure afterwards as the Blues players started coming to terms with their agonising semi-final exit at the Millennium Stadium. But he has since received countless messages of support, and also expressed his admiration for Leicester stars Lewis Moody, Geordan Murphy and Martin Corry, who all commiserated with him.
"I can't believe what happened – it's as if you weren't there," Williams told the Western Mail. "You never envisage it coming down to that. It's just bizarre how it turned out that way. It was a bit of a lottery and somebody was going to miss – I've just got to live with the fact that it was me.
"There's never been a penalty shoot-out before in rugby, so I guess I've earned myself a place in the record books. But it's not one that I wanted. Lewis Moody, Geordan Murphy and Martin Corry all came over to me. They said they didn't feel like celebrating that much because of the way the game had ended, and they just said to keep my chin up. Fair play to them, they are top men for doing that."
Williams, who will embark on his third British and Irish Lions tour later this month, has not yet watched any television replays of the penalty drama. "I haven't been able to face it yet. It was just a surreal feeling. I was a bit more in shock than anything. It was pretty difficult to take it all in.
"It just was a horrible night, but the number of messages I have had since have been incredible. It has been really nice, and I am really grateful to all the people that have contacted me. It does help soften the blow."
