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SA on target to end losing streak. Chester Williams

By Toby Robson
New Zealand Dominion Post
22 July 2005

FORMER South African wing Chester Williams believes the Springboks are primed to break their four-year winning drought against the All Blacks in Christchurch on Saturday. "It's the first time in a while that I feel it could go either way," Williams said yesterday. "For the last few years we knew New Zealand and Australia have had the better chance, but that is no longer the case."

The Springboks have lost their last seven games against the All Blacks, their last win (46-40) was in Johannesburg in 2000. But Williams, who played 27 tests for South Africa, believes new national coach Jake White has found a style that suits the South African players. The Springboks have been impressive in wins over Wales, Ireland and the Pacific Islanders.

"We have gone back to what our strengths are. We are quite physical and strong and take the game to them with our physiques. We have good defensive patterns and that's made a difference this year."

Williams also warned that with more in time the Springboks backline was capable of being could be as lethal as their All Blacks opposites. "In the next year or two they will be like the New Zealand backline that have been there for a while and create things out of nothing." And he did not think South Africa's ongoing off-field dramas would affect their on-field performance. "I think Jake White is doing a great job keeping the guys focused, even though there's a lot going on off the field."

Williams has spent the past three weeks in Palmerston North attending Murray Mexted's International Rugby Academy of New Zealand (IRANZ) high performance coaching course. Williams was sent to Mexted's $6000 course by Sarfu to learn from coaches such as Laurie Mains, John Boe and David Nucifora and share ideas with former players such as Jeff Wilson and Tim Horan. He joined 12 other professional coaches from England, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

Williams, the 2004 coach of the this year's Cats Super 12 team and former South African sevens coach, said he had learned a lot from mixing with international coaches and players. "We [South Africa] will always have our own style, but the technical side of the tame game we need to know more about. It's good to see what other coaches have been doing from other countries."

He had noted a difference in the length of New Zealand and Australian coaches' training sessions. "How many times we train in a week or in a day, there is quite a big difference between the countries. I think we have been sometimes over-trained rather than making it short and sharp."

Williams said he would not be able to carry on coaching South Africa's sevens team, but would love to coach the Springboks. "I don't think I'm ready right now. I need to have more time in the Super 12 system, but if I got the opportunity, then certainly I would like to."