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PARIS - Butch James sounds like he should be a descendant of Wild West outlaws Butch Cassidy and Jesse James and sometimes his play on the field for South Africa has indeed been illegal.
However, this World Cup has seen a calmer and less physically violent James as the out-half's partnership with Fourie du Preez has proved pivotal to seeing the Springboks into the last four - where they will meet Argentina - and winning bragging rights over Tri-Nations rivals New Zealand and Australia, who bowed out in the quarter-finals.
The 28-year-old - who will play for English Premiership giants Bath next term having left the Sharks, where he will be replaced by mercurial Frenchman Frederic Michalak - and du Preez will once again be tested on Sunday by Argentina's outstanding half-back duo of Agustin Pichot and Juan Martin Hernandez.
For James, who earned his reputation for foul play through a series of head high tackles, his battle with Hernandez could be the vital one in determining which side faces either France or England in the final and he expects quite a clash against the player known as the 'Magician'.
"I think he is the best player in the world at the moment," said James, who is reportedly being paid 200,000 pounds sterling for his one year contract with Bath.
"I'm not too sure if fly-half is his position, but he is by far the best rugby player with skills and everything that goes with it. He is very good.
"I think that with a bit of space he would be better at full back (the position where he plays for his club Stade Francais)."
James, who was christened Andrew but whose grandmother nicknamed him Butch, said there were several reasons why he rated Hernandez so highly.
"He has got (good) hands, he's got a big boot, he can step, he's got speed - he's got everything."
But James remains confident South Africa can contain Hernandez and stop him from executing his speciality of drop goals - he scored three against Ireland and another against Scotland in the Pumas' 19-13 quarter-final win last Sunday.
"I don't think it will be too hard," said James.
"I've got the incredible Schalk (Burger) on my inside, so he should be helping me a bit and Francois (Steyn) outside so I'm not too worried about him. We will be able to handle him."
James, who not only has had to overcome his badboy reputation on the field but also has had to battle back twice from serious knee injuries, doesn't believe that either side will play an expansive game on Sunday.
"We haven't played much high risk rugby while we have been here, so I don't think you will see it (high risk rugby) from us," said James.
"We will be sticking to the way that we play."
And James is utterly concerned by what fans will think about the likely lack of an open, entertaining match, revealing perhaps that his steely side still lurks beneath the surface.
"As long as we win, I don't care what the spectators think."
- AFP
