Chester: Bok form a 'good omen'
Williams has provided that silver for the dark cloud that is hovering over the South African national team.
Williams, a member of the legendary World Cup-winning 1995 Bok team said those dismissing South Africa's World Cup prospects need to take a careful look back to the past.
Both the Boks' 1995 and 2007 World Cup triumphs were preceded by a run of defeats the previous 24 months.
Those parallels drawn by Williams showed that in the 12 months preceding a winning World Cup the Boks struggled against super powers like New Zealand, Australia, England and France.
In the past 12 months there were defeats at the hands of New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and Wales – all among the fancied teams in the upcoming global showpiece.
In fact before last Saturday's win over Argentina in Buenos Aires the Boks were on a four-match losing streak. In 2006 there was a five-match losing streak and in 1994 there was just one win five starts.
"Nobody gave us a chance to win the World Cup in 1995," Williams said – adding that the All Blacks had a host of individual superstars, but the Boks played as a team when they won 15-12 in extra time of a dramatic Final at Ellis Park.
"In 1994 we didn't do well," the former Bok flyer said.
"We lost the series when we lost two against New Zealand and drew the third Test.
"We lost a Test at Ellis Park as well," he said of a defeat at the hands of England, before the disastrous tour to New Zealand.
"We went on to win the World Cup the following year.
"The same happened in 2007, when the Boks won the World Cup and in 2006 we were also nowhere.
"Maybe that is a good omen for this Springbok team that they haven't done that well.
"Hopefully they will be confident enough going to the World Cup.
"South Africa will always have a good chance at the World Cup."
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
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