|
|
 |
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities 
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
Stepping down Springbok winger Williams retires at 30
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -- Springbok winger Chester Williams, the only black player in the South African side which won the World Cup in 1995, has announced his retirement. Williams, 30, said in a statement he was retiring for medical reasons which he did not specify. He said he was interested in coaching the South African Sevens team. Williams made his name as South African rugby's first successful black player following the unification of the country's segregated rugby bodies in 1992. His engaging personality combined with his try-scoring exploits saw him transcend the country's racial dividing lines. Williams made his international debut for the Springboks against Argentina in 1993, becoming only the third black Springbok and the first in nine years. A year later he became the first black player to be named as South Africa's player of the year. He went on to be capped 27 times and scored 14 tries for the Springboks, the last of which came against New Zealand at Ellis Park last year. Williams is best remembered for the Springbok record four tries he scored in the World Cup quarterfinal against Western Samoa at Ellis Park in 1995. He made his final appearance in a Springbok jersey against the Barbarians on South Africa's end of 2000 tour of Argentina, Ireland and Britain. Coach Harry Viljoen offered Williams a position as assistant coach on that tour but the player declined, preferring to stay on the field as long as possible. Williams damaged his knee ligaments at the start of 1996 and when he returned in 1997, he damaged the ligaments in the other knee. Williams made his third comeback in 1998 and still managed to win a Springbok recall under Nick Mallett, making replacement appearances against the All Blacks and Wallabies in the Tri-Nations competition. At provincial level, Williams played for Western Province and the Golden Lions, and represented the Cats in the Super 12. Williams is the nephew of Avril Williams, who played in two Tests for South Africa. Swart heralds new era Only rarely in the history of South African rugby can there have been a more unexpected selection than that of the 19-year-old flyhalf Francois Swart to the Springbok training squad. The student was catapulted to national notoriety last month when South African coach Harry Viljoen backed a hunch. He included the youngster in a party of 32 in preparation for the forthcoming two-test series against France and one-off match against Italy. Surprised commentators and former players went so far as to describe the selection as a disgrace and a snub for senior professionals who had competed in the arduous Super 12 competition. Swart was almost equally nonplussed. He has yet to make his first-class rugby debut and had little ambition this year other than making his Potchefstroom University age-group team. "I was practicing with the Potch under-19s at four o'clock that afternoon when the squad was announced," Swart said. "When I came off the field, they told me: 'You're in the Springbok team'. It felt like a dream -- it didn't seem real. I thought it was a joke until I heard everyone talking about it and running around." Viljoen had to move quickly to counter the charge that he was cheapening the honor of becoming a Springbok. He pointed out that the 32 were merely a training squad and Swart's inclusion did not necessarily mean that a test debut was imminent. But nor has he ruled out the possibility. There is no doubt Viljoen hopes he has stumbled across an uncut gem. Dress rehearsal Swart came to Viljoen's attention only a week before he announced his squad. The Springbok coach held dress rehearsals for his training camp at Potchefstroom University. Students and other promising young players were used to test-drive the drills and playing patterns Viljoen was planning to use with the Springboks. Swart's striking talent and aptitude over the two-day experiment convinced the coach to overcome his own reluctance and include the player. "All we have done with him is cast the net as wide as possible and given ourselves options," said Viljoen. "Swart was very impressive while we were at Potchefstroom. "All the selectors know about him and for two days we saw what he is capable of. "South African rugby has nothing to lose and everything to gain by his inclusion at the training camp." Talent shortage The fact that Swart plays in a position in which South Africa has an acute shortage of established talent helped to open the door. Sharks flyhalf Butch James -- only two years Swart's senior and also uncapped -- looks set to be given the Springbok jersey against France in Johannesburg on June 16 after an impressive debut season in the Super 12. Since the retirement of Henry Honiball in 1999, three different players have held the position but neither Braam van Straaten nor Louis Koen nor Percy Montgomery has been convincing. Swart filled the role for the South African under-19s in this year's youth world cup in Chile and it is Viljoen's desire to create a new style of Springbok that has encouraged him to select laterally, as well as think laterally. Viljoen wants to combine traditional South African power with the smart rugby of the world champion Wallabies. He has appointed former Australian backline coach Tim Lane to do the same job for the Springboks as well as taking on two short-term consultants from Australian Rules Football and rugby league to hone South African catching, kicking and defensive skills. Whether Swart's rugby education will continue with the Springboks or at university will be decided this weekend. Viljoen will slim down his squad to 26 on Sunday but even if Swart is omitted it seems unlikely that South African rugby will have heard the last of him. "The reason for the camp was twofold," said Viljoen. "To prepare a squad to take on France but also to introduce young players to the Springbok culture with an eye on the World Cup in 2003."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
