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Grant Williams' verdict on his first selection as the Springboks No9
Grant Williams has insisted he is finally ready to play his first full Test match for the Springboks after struggling with injuries for years. The 27-year-old scrum-half will get his first start in a South Africa jersey on Saturday when he faces Argentina at Ellis Park in The Rugby Championship.
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Hailing from Paarl, Williams received his schooling at Paarl Gimnasium. He arrived in Durban in 2017, joining forces with College Rovers, and the following year he found himself thrust into the Super Rugby cauldron when he was required to replace the injured Louis Schreuder against the Lions.
Williams is a typically busy half-back, with a lethal turn of pace, something he demonstrated when he came off the bench against Australia at Loftus just over a fortnight ago. He explained it took a lot of perseverance and patience for him to work his way into the Springboks XV.
“I played club rugby after school in 2014. I then ended up at College Rovers in Durban. Perseverance is probably the biggest thing that is instilled in me. It helped me to this point and I’m extremely grateful,” said Williams after he was named on Tuesday in a Springboks team that shows nine changes from the round two Championship loss to New Zealand.
“My first Bok camp was in 2021 and it was a blessing in disguise that I didn’t go too quickly because I didn’t think I was ready. I am now finally ready to play international rugby.
“It takes a lot to work through everything to get to the point where I am now. I am very thankful for the opportunity. For the first time I am healthy because I had a lot of niggles. I really struggled with small injuries and this is the first time that I can complete a season without any injury.”
Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber explained the reasoning behind thrusting the youngster to the forefront, granting him a starting berth ahead of more experienced scrum-halves like the benched Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach.
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“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.
“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.”
Nienaber also talked about the five scrum-halves in the squad and how Williams worked hard to be recognised. “We are really fortunate that we have five really good scrum-halves. In terms of Grant, the two games he came off the bench, it was not only that.
“Last year he didn’t get an opportunity and he was probably number four or number five in the pecking order because the other guys were all fit and they got game-time and they got a break. So it was more about how he trained, how he performed for his franchise.
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“It’s not only how he did in the last two Test matches when he came off the bench. It is what he did since he has been in the mix with us. He has always been a guy that gave it his all and he probably deserves the opportunity. Through things that happened to the other scrum-halves, he got the opportunity now and he is definitely putting up his hand.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
2 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
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