Chester backs Bok in wing battle

SOUTH AFRICA v WALES
First Test venue: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Date: Saturday, 7 June Kick-off: 1400 BST
Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and online

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Williams believes Habana is rugby's top winger following his World Cup win

South African legend Chester Williams believe his fellow Springbok Bryan Habana has the edge over Wales' Shane Williams when it comes to wing play.

The world's two leading wingers face each other when Wales take on South Africa in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Habana led the Boks to World Cup glory scoring eight tries while Williams inspired Wales to Grand Slam glory and became their top try scorer on the way.

"We have to give it to Bryan Habana," said 1995 World Cup winner Williams.

Habana is the current IRB Player of the Year while Welshman Williams was voted this year's RBS Six Nations player of the tournament.

Both have impressive scoring records with Williams recently said one of the reasons he wanted to play against South Africa was to get the better of Habana.

WILLIAMS v HABANA SHANE WILLIAMS Age: 31 Club: Ospreys Wales record: 56 caps (41 tries) Height: 5ft 7ins Weight: 12st 13lb BRYAN HABANA Age: 24 Club: Bulls South Africa record: 36 caps (30 tries) Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 14st 8lb

The Wales stars namesake and South African Emerging coach thinks the Bulls flyer just edges it on their recent records but is looking forward to their head-to-head this weekend.

"Everybody is talking about Shane Williams - he's a finisher, he scores tries," said Williams, nicknamed 'The Black Pearl' in his playing days.

"Even though Shane is small he's good under the high ball. He knows and understands games and he reads and has a good feeling for the game.

"But Bryan Habana has proven himself now for the last two years and South Africa won the rugby World Cup because Bryan Habana was outstanding in the World Cup.

"So we have to give it to Bryan Habana but we'll see on Saturday when they compete against each other.

"It will be very interesting to see what's happening on Saturday."

In terms of the rest of the Wales team, Williams also had good things to say about captain Ryan Jones.

"The captain, he's a good ball-carrier, he's a good line-out specialist and he's also big and physical," said Williams.

"The main thing with him is that he's a good leader. The players support him whatever he says and that makes a big difference to the team."

But despite these qualities he feels his home nation will be too strong for the visitors - despite all the changes new coach Peter De Villiers has made.

Williams says Ryan Jones is admired for his leadership across South Africa

"I think they've got a slight chance but I honestly do believe that the Springboks will be too strong for them," he said.

"The South African side is still a very good side because all the players involved with the team on Saturday have been on good form and been playing excellent rugby and that's why they've been selected.

"The team is very physical, they're big and strong and also very talented and skilful to create tries with the backline.

"I think the two players they will miss the most are Victor Matfield and Schalke Burger especially with Schalke's ability to disrupt the opposition not only on their ball but also in defence.

"I think playing Wales is not going to be the easiest of games. The first 20 minutes is going to decide what's going to happen for the rest of the game.

"The physicality of the Springbok team is either going to tire the Welsh team or not."