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Grant Williams' first Springboks Test start lasts just 10 seconds
Grant Williams’ first start as the Springboks No9 was dramatically ended on Saturday by a collision just 10 seconds into his team’s Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Johannesburg. The recently turned 27-year-old was named last Tuesday for his maiden run-on appearance for South Africa after three previous appearances off the replacements bench.
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The scrum-half was one of nine changes to the Springboks XV made by head coach Jacques Nienaber following their round two 20-35 loss to New Zealand in Auckland. However, hopes that the Championship finale would provide South African fans with a good look at Williams ahead of the upcoming Rugby World Cup were dashed by an injury sustained in his first involvement in the match.
Argentina kicked off at Emirates Airlines Park and their start went deep into the 22 to where Williams was poised to gather. He caught the ball on the five-metre line, but his right-footed kick was blocked on 10 seconds by the charging Juan Cruz Mallia.
The Argentine full-back, who was airborne at the time, caught Williams in the head with his follow through and after the play was stopped on 17 seconds following a South African infringement at a ruck, referee Andrew Brace decided that Mallia was committed to the collision after touching the ball and that foul play hadn’t taken place.
The knocked-out Williams was stretchered off, allowing Faf de Klerk, who had dropped to the bench to accommodate the Test rookie getting his first start, to come onto the field. This lack of game time for Williams will frustrate the Springboks given how highly coach Nienaber had spoken about him earlier in the week.
IMHO I don’t think it’s ethical for the video of Grant Williams being knocked out cold, to be posted or reshared. It’s bad enough that it happened on live TV. Think about the player involved, and their loved ones.
— Elma Smit (@Elmakapelma) July 29, 2023
“Grant is on his third Test and his first start. It is our job to help him gain experience during the week to give him as much exposure of what he is going to get on Saturday so that he is happy and comfortable in the role that he has to fulfill; so that doesn’t have to think about it,” explained Nienaber after he had decided to start Williams.
“He can just bring out his natural talent and that makes him special. Yes, he has a role to fulfill, but there is also something that Grant brings to the table that makes him special, that is a Grant Williams thing.”
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South Africa recovered from the early loss of Williams to lead 15-9 at the interval courtesy of tries from Eben Etzebeth and Damian de Allende, and they went on to win 22-21 to clinch a second-place finish in the tournament behind New Zealand.
Manie Libbok’s converted 69th-minute try stretched the hosts’ lead to 22-9 before de Allende’s yellow card was followed by late Argentina tries for Mateo Carreras and Gonzalo Bertranou.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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