Andy Colquhoun

in Cape Town

South Africa's most celebrated black player and the white national team coach who was forced to resign after using racist language may be paired in a new Springbok coaching set-up.

Chester Williams, the black wing who became an icon of the new South Africa during their successful 1995 World Cup campaign, is being put forward as a partner to Andre Markgraaff in succession to Rudolf Straeuli.

"I'm very confident," Williams said of his candidacy last night. "My preparation is going well in what I want to say to the technical committee and I am honoured to be given the chance to prove that I can do the job."

He added he would not rule out working with Markgraaff, but would be able to make such a decision only after talking with any coaches with whom he might be teamed.

Williams, Markgraaff and the provincial coaches Heyneke Meyer (Blue Bulls) and Dumisani Mhani (Border Bulldogs) were the only candidates being considered by SA Rugby at a special meeting of the board yesterday.

An emotional Markgraaff resigned as Springbok coach at the start of 1997 after being recorded calling black rugby administrators "fucking kaffirs".

He spent the 1997 and 1998 seasons out of the spotlight, even though he was forgiven by the black rugby community and politicians.

He returned to coach in the Bloemfontein Cats' Super 12 season in 1999 with Williams as one of his players, but resigned after his team finished 11th.

Guardian Service