Springboks quick to recall Williams

Chester Williams, the South African wing who was called into the squad this week, will be pitched straight into action in the Springboks' quarter-final against Western Samoa in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The hosts are not risking either of their injured backs, the wing James Small or stand-off Joel Stransky. Small is still recovering from a hamstring injury while Stransky, the side's leading points scorer suffered an eye injury in the ill-tempered group game against Canada in which three players were sent off.

France, who play Ireland in Durban on Saturday, have recalled Louis Armary, who has been in the squad at all three World Cups, at loose-head prop in place of Laurent Benzech.

Armary is one of three changes from the team that started the match against Scotland when the French snatched a last-gasp victory to top Group D and avoid the favourites,New Zealand, in the quarter-finals.

The All Blacks play Scotland in Pretoria on Sunday, a game which the Scotland centre Graham Shiel fears he may miss. The Scots are due to name their side today, but the 24-year-old Melrose player is still nursing the nose injury which forced him off during the French match. He was able to train with the Scottish squad in Pretoria yesterday but avoided all contact work.

FRANCE (v Ireland, Durban, Saturday): J L Sadourny (Colomiers); E N'tamack (Toulouse), P Sella (Agen), T Lacroix (Dax), P Saint-Andre (Montferrand, capt); C Deylaud (Toulouse), A Hueber (Toulon); L Armary (Lourdes), J- M Gonzalez (Bayonne), C Califano (Toulouse), O Merle (Montferrand), O Roumat (Dax), A Benazzi (Agen), M Cecillon (Bourgoin), L Cabannes (Racing).

SOUTH AFRICA (v Western Samoa, Johannesburg, Saturday): A Joubert (Natal); G Johnson (Transvaal), J Mulder (Transvaal), C Scholtz (Traansvaal), C Williams (Western Province); H le Roux (Transvaal), J van der Westhuizen (Northern Transvaal); P du Randt (Free State), C Rossouw (Transvaal), B Swart (Transvaal), K Wiese (Transvaal), M Andrews (Natal), F Pienaar (Transvaal, capt), R Straeuli (Transvaal), R Kruger (Northern Transvaal).