The duel of the speedsters

2008-05-27 22:01

Stephen Nell

Cape Town - The possibility of a duel between Springbok wing Tonderai Chavhanga and Shane Williams of Wales is creating excitement even before the selection of the South African squad for the two-Test series.

Williams has scored 41 tries in 56 internationals for the Welsh, who will arrive in South Africa as Six Nations champions later this week.

Chavhanga has scored six tries in his two Test appearances. He was in outstanding form for the Stormers before tearing a hamstring in the Super 14 match against the Hurricanes.

He is expected to be in the squad to be announced by Springbok coach Peter de Villiers on Wednesday.

If form is the yardstick for selection, Chavhanga must have a good chance of being on the right wing when the Springboks meet Wales in Bloemfontein next week.

He has recovered from the injury and does not foresee a problem to regain his Super 14 form.

"I really enjoyed my rugby until I was injured," he said on Tuesday. "I don't believe my form will be negatively influenced by the fact that I've been out for a few weeks."

Chavhanga is not taking selection for granted, though. "I'd love to be in the team, of course, but we have good wings in South Africa. If I'm given the opportunity, I'll play as if it's my last game."

The speedster played well when he was a member of the Emerging Springboks team that De Villiers coached at the Nations Cup tournament in Romania last year.

On Tuesday, he also expressed his gratitude for the guidance he had received from the Stormers' coaching staff.

"I have grown a lot as a player under the guidance of Rassie Erasmus, Allister Coetzee and Brendan Venter. They really helped me with things that I had previously neglected.

"I played better in every match and gained much confidence from the fact that the coaches believed in me," Chavhanga said.

- Die Burger