Grant Williams has revealed new attack coach Tony Brown is getting the Springbok halfbacks to think differently ahead of the Test series opener against Ireland on Saturday.
Brown, who took over the role from Felix Jones at the beginning of this year, has been working closely with the Springbok attack during the alignment and training camps over the past few months.
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A known innovative thinker, the former All Blacks flyhalf’s plans already showed promise in the Boks’ Test-opener against Wales at Twickenham, where they secured a 41-13 win.
However, a first proper examination of a new-look Bok attack will take place during the first Test against Six Nations champions Ireland at Loftus Versfeld.
Speaking ahead of the match in Pretoria, Williams said that Brown has already challenged the Bok halfbacks’ thinking.
“As Tony said, we’re trying to see space better and identify opportunities a lot earlier than before,” the Bok scrumhalf said. “[The team’s attack and personnel] have changed since two years ago.
“We’ve got [halfbacks] like me, Morné van den Berg, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Jordan Hendrikse, and we’re all trying to learn as much as we can.
“There’s healthy competition, I think that’s the most important thing for me. I normally grow when the competition is on. We’ve got four good nines at the moment, and if you look at nines in general in South Africa, for me it has been healthy, it brings out the best in me.”
There has been plenty of talk in the media about the Springboks looking to redeem their only defeat at the 2023 World Cup, where they went on to defend their title.
However, Williams brushed off the banter in the media between the teams off the field.
“We pride ourselves on trying to win Test matches, so we don’t really dwell on who’s number one or two in the world,” he said.
“The World Cup is history, so our focus now is solely on doing well in this Test.”
A member of last year’s World Cup squad, Williams has mostly been utilised on the wing for the Springboks, but the nippy scrumhalf could now get an opportunity to play in his favoured position.
“Whatever the Springboks demand or ask of me I feel I will be able to deliver and put myself in that position,” Williams said.
“So it doesn’t matter if its nine or wing, whatever the Springboks demand I will take it on.”
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
