Williams keeps feet grounded ahead of Springboks’ Rugby Championship opener

Springbok scrumhalf Grant Williams is refusing to get carried away after being given the nod to start in the side’s opening Rugby Championship match against Australia at Ellis Park on Saturday, with Cobus Reinach providing back-up on the bench.

Morne van den Berg could consider himself unlucky to miss out, given the Lions player’s standout performances in back-to-back Tests against Italy in the recent Incoming Series. The Boks also boast the talents and vast experience of Faf de Klerk and Williams’ Sharks teammate, Jaden Hendrikse.

Williams impressed in the second Test against Italy, combining well with flyhalf Manie Libbok, having recovered from a neck injury.

They will again renew their burgeoning half-back partnership in a very attacking backline on Saturday. Damian Willemse will provide flyhalf cover.

Asked whether he felt he was now in a position to make the Springbok No 9 jersey his own, Williams was diplomatic.

“We have a really good squad – Cobus, Morne, Faf, and Jaden as well. I think selection is just about how we want to play in the week. I can’t really say that I want to make the No 9 jersey mine, but I would like to compete,” said Williams.

Coach Rassie Erasmus reiterated that the jersey was a “shared one”.

“I think we’re really trying to build a culture where it’s all three’s jersey and hopefully just in the World Cup quarter-final, semi-final, and final we’ll pick the best nine in form,” Williams said.

“Faf is not at all out of the picture and Jaden is not out of the picture. We know we normally carry four nines but, just for the sake of repetition and getting some one-on-one intel into players, we cut the squad a little bit.

“We know if you don’t go four positions deep, maybe suddenly in one game you get two injuries in one position. So, they’re competing and they don’t want to just give the jersey away, but they also understand that we will rotate.

He (Williams) got the nod in a very important match. The way we want to play in this game, we feel he is the best option there. But I think this squad has accepted now that we have to share jerseys and not say this guy is out-and-out the best.”

Erasmus has named a strong team to face Australia, with the matchday squad featuring 18 Rugby World Cup winners. The Springboks will be hunting their fifth successive victory against the Wallabies.