Rugby: 'Express train' Lomu handful for test veteran

DURBAN - Chester Williams has the best-known face in South African rugby.

He has been a Springbok longer than any of his team-mates starting in tomorrow morning's Tri-Nations test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park, in Johannesburg.

Astonishingly, the match will be his first start for the Springboks in five years.

"It's true," he said. "Even I find that hard to believe.

"I've played off the bench all this time and I was out of rugby for two seasons with knee injuries - that was hard."

It will also be the first time the Springboks have had two black or Coloured wingers starting a test, with Williams on one side of the field and Breyton Paulse on the other.

And it will be the first time Williams has marked Jonah Lomu, even though he has tackled the colossal All Black a couple of times.

"It's always been side-on tackles on him," Williams recalled yesterday.

"I don't know how I'm going to take the express train head-on - I don't know whether I will, or wait for him and get him from the side again.

"But he might be too quick and I might have to wait for another five years to get another start."

Williams, aged 30, believes this will be his last year of Springbok rugby. He may decide to play another season of Super 12 before quitting that as well.

"I'm an old man. These kids coming up are getting too fast. I don't know where they get the speed from because I thought I was fast," he said.

Williams is realistic about his chances and his future.

"If this team weren't in a strife I wouldn't be in the team," he said. "I'm slowing down but right now I'm feeling great."

Williams has basically carried the black or Coloured flag in the Springboks team since they were accepted back on the international scene in 1992.

Although he had been in the squad in 1992, he made his test debut against Argentina in Buenos Aires alongside halfback Joost van der Westhuizen in 1993.

Williams has just 24 test caps, a legacy of his horrendous twin knee injuries in 1996-97. The Springboks selectors ignored him last season.

His try-scoring feats guaranteed him a place in the Springboks and he crossed for 13 in his first 18 tests, adding to the 41 he scored from 63 games for Western Province.

Before closing what could be the final couple of chapters of what he describes a "glittering rugby career until I was injured," Williams wants to help the Springboks to rise again after four consecutive losses.

"I think I owe it to them," he said.

"But I've got the express train to look after and I don't think any rugby player in the world will envy my job if he is honest.

"I think [Lomu] is the world's toughest opponent.

"He's devastating when you give him space and he's so powerful when he decides to take two or three with him - he still moves forward.

"If I was his coach I'd tell all the other players to give him the ball every time they get it - just look for express train and load him up - let him do the rest."

Williams has been deliberately given the job of marking Lomu.

The previous time Williams started a test was at Ellis Park in 1995.

Lomu did not score and the Springboks won - the World Cup.

- NZPA