The Springboks’ wealth of talent at No 9 has impressed across the ditch, with Kiwi pundits calling their depth “insane” going into the Rugby Championship.
Former Blues and Crusaders scrumhalf Bryn Hall says Grant Williams deserves to be included in the same conversation as French general Antoine Dupont and All Black Cam Roigard as the best 9s in the world at the moment.
Speaking on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, Hall says Williams has shown during the incoming Tests why he’s currently the first-choice scrumhalf in South Africa and definitely deserves to be spoken about among the best in the world.
“Grant Williams goes alright as well,” said Hall. “I got absolutely ridiculed in the messages and the comments around obviously not telling about Williams with Dupont and Roigard.”
Hall, along with co-hosts Ross Karl and ex-All Blacks hooker James Parsons, agreed that South Africa’s current scrumhalf depth is among the best globally.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named Williams, Cobus Reinach and Morne van den Berg in the squad for the first two Tests against Australia in Johannesburg and Cape Town while seasoned campaigner Faf de Klerk remains on standby. Jaden Hendrikse is also available in case of an emergency, and U20 world champion Haashim Pead has been included in the senior squad’s training camp.
“He’s the guy coming up the ranks,” Hall said of Pead.
“He’s a rising superstar that could be a thorn in NZ’s side for years to come. He was the difference for the under-20s with his try scoring and his try assists. It seems like the halfback stocks in South Africa are very, very good at the moment.”
The panel also touched on the Springboks’ broader strengths, noting that their playmaking depth, across several positions, makes them one of the most dangerous teams heading into the tournament.
“As far as the Springboks are concerned, those playmaking options are insane. Just so many options,” said Karl.
The only caveat raised by the Kiwi pundits was whether the Boks could be a little undercooked heading into the Rugby Championship, having not faced the same level of opposition as the All Blacks and the Wallabies in the lead-up.
“The Aussies are coming off a British & Irish Lions series, so these three weeks that everyone else is resting, they’re in the middle of it and they’re probably building through the Lions series to the Rugby Championship,” Karl added.
