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The 1995 Rugby World Cup record that stands to this day

Chester Williams. (Photo by FABIAN GREDILLAS / AFP)

The current crop of international wings have certainly done well to follow in their predecessors’ footsteps.

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The likes of Cheslin Kolbe, Makozole Mapimpi, Jonny May and Rieko Ioane – to name just a few – have no problem causing havoc to any defence.

During the World Cup, Kolbe and Mapimpi were an instrumental part in the Springboks’ 2019 triumph.

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Warren Gatland joins Jim Hamilton to discuss his new book, Pride and Passion.

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Warren Gatland joins Jim Hamilton to discuss his new book, Pride and Passion.

They scored a try apiece during the Final – establishing themselves among the finest wings South Africa has produced.

However, before Kolbe and Mapimpi, there was a man by the name of Chester Williams.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBhpYROAkSK/

Born in Paarl, Williams was a very talented player who played for the Western Province, before winning the Currie Cup with the Golden Lions in 1999.

He made his Springbok debut at the age of 23 against Argentina in November 1993 and was part of the Springboks side that won the 1995 World Cup.

Williams still holds the record for the only South African to have scored four tries in a World Cup play-off match.

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The wing had defenders grasping thin air as he dazzled his way through the big Pacific Islanders during the quarterfinal win over Samoa.

Williams, nicknamed the ‘Black Pearl’, is one of just two players who hold this incredible record.

The other legend is All Blacks superstar Jonah Lomu.

The New Zealander bagged four tries during a semifinal match against England at the 1995 World Cup.

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Sadly for the rugby fraternity, both have passed – Williams in 2019 and Lomu in 2015.

However, 25-years and six World Cup editions later, their joint record still remains intact.

– Leezil Hendricks/Rugby365

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cw 4 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Thanks JW for clarifying your point and totally agree. The ABs are still trying to find their mojo” - that spark of power that binds and defines them. Man the Boks certainly found theirs in Wellington! But I think it cannot be far off for ABs - my comment about two coaches was a bit glib. The key point for me is that they need first a coach or coaches that can unlock that power and for me that starts at getting the set piece right and especially the scrum and second a coach that can simplify the game plans. I am fortified in this view by NBs comment that most of the ABs tries come from the scrum or lineout - this is the structured power game we have been seeing all year. But it cannot work while the scrum is backpeddling. That has to be fixed ASAP if Robertson is going to stick to this formula. I also think it is too late in the cycle to reverse course and revert to a game based on speed and continuity. The second is just as important - keep it simple! Complex movements that require 196 cm 144 kg props to run around like 95kg flankers is never going to work over a sustained period. The 2024 Blues showed what a powerful yet simple formula can do. The 2025 Blues, with Beauden at 10 tried to be more expansive / complicated - and struggled for most of the season.

I also think that the split bench needs to reflect the game they “want” to play not follow some rote formula. For example the ABs impact bench has the biggest front row in the World with two props 195cm / 140 kg plus. But that bulk cannot succeed without the right power based second row (7, 4, 5, 6). That bulk becomes a disadvantage if they don’t have a rock solid base behind them - as both Boks showed at Eden Park and the English in London. Fresh powerful legs need to come on with them - thats why we need a 6-2 bench. And teams with this split can have players focused only on 40 minutes max of super high intensity play. Hence Robertson needs to design his team to accord with these basic physics.



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