Chester Williams illuminated the Springboks' last game on tour against the Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium and the 70,000 crowd showed their appreciation with a standing ovation when the wing was substituted midway through the second half.

Williams not only scored two tries, but his involvement in play, deft touches on attack, ability to read the game and work ethic makes him a firm favourite with crowds wherever he plays. On Sunday, the Springbok World Cup hero of 1995 answered those who want to condemn him to the scrapyard in the best possible way - with a sublime performance.

And fellow wing Breyton Paulse followed the example his roommate set by scoring a hat-trick of tries, highlighted by the delightful one in which he showed his lightning speed from the mark by ghosting past Lawrence Dallaglio and Chris Latham.

Before the game, media speculation was rife that this would be Williams' last hurrah in the Springbok jersey and that he won't get a contract for next season. Williams, however, showed there's still plenty of kick left in him and that he wouldn't be jettisoned that easily.

Barbarians coaches Bob Dwyer and John Hart heaped praise on the Bok wingers after the game. Former ian coach Dwyer said: "I said to him (Williams) after the game there is still plenty of life in the old legs. He said 'what do you mean, old legs?' He played well, although I'd be hard pressed to find a player who didn't play well."

Dwyer was asked whether Paulse is now the quickest player in the game in terms of acceleration from the mark: "He could be - he certainly is very sharp. He came on tremendously in the last 18 months or so. It seems to me that he is a great recommendation for the South African policy, the way he came along.

"I doubt when he was first selected whether he would have been so dangerous, but we had dinner with the South African coaches the other night and I said without that policy, there might have been a lot slower progress made and I think it's essential. No revolution without bloodshed, hey?"

Former All Black coach Hart said both South African wings were excellent. "Chester has been one of the great competitors over the years and he certainly competed today. He got the South Africans in the game a couple of times and he really played very well.

"If that was his last game, and I'm not sure it was, it was a nice way for him to go out. I think he's done a lot for South African rugby.

He enthused about the magical Paulse: "Yes, he is an exciting player. I remember in 1996 he played as a guest player for Boland against the All Blacks and I saw a magic step that day and he is still doing a magic step. He is older now and he has more experience. He is a very good player."