Through adversity comes opportunity. The Cell C Sharks scrumhalf Grant Williams has had his fair share of both in 2022, and he’s emerged the better player for it.
Williams, who was handed a four-week ban in February for an accidental head clash during the Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against the Vodacom Bulls in Durban, made his Springbok debut in the second Test of the July series against Wales in Bloemfontein.
Having tasted the big time with the national team, Williams was poised to make a big splash back in the Shark Tank during the 2021-22 campaign, but his suspension was a setback that allowed Hendrikse to make the No 9 jersey his own. “Things didn’t always go my way,” Williams said. “I persevered and got through it … it’s healthy competition and I’m enjoying what I’m doing at the moment. It’s about creating the best version of myself.”
Though Williams may still burst into the world champions’ match-day 23, for now the Bok pecking order at scrumhalf remains dominated by Hendrikse, Faf de Klerk, Herschel Jantjies and Cobus Reinach.