The Springboks don’t dwell on who is the world’s No 1 or two side, but rather try and keep their incredibly high standards up for the jersey they represent.
That’s the view of Bok scrumhalf Grant Williams, who has the chance to play his first game on home soil since being knocked unconscious in the Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Johannesburg last year.
Williams recovered and made the World Cup squad, and now sports a proud winners medal after being one of four halfbacks that was taken to the tournament in France, a selection that confounded many at the time.
But with Ireland arriving to face the Boks at Loftus Versfeld in the first of their epic two-test series on Saturday, Williams was the first player to face the media and fronted up on talk of the match up between the top two sides in world rugby.
And he made it quite clear that when it comes to the media frenzy about who is the best side in the world, it doesn’t go on inside the Bok camp.
“It’s the normal standard for a Springbok side, we pride ourselves on winning test matches and I think that is something. We don’t dwell too much on No 1 or No 2, or whatever but the World Cup is in the past now and we are looking forward to a test match on Saturday, that is where the whole squad is,” Williams said when asked about it.
HEALTHY COMPETITION
Williams is part of four halfbacks currently in the squad and has been exceptional in his play since joining the team, trademarking some remarkable speed in the process and asking questions of the defence.
And that healthy competition is something that fuels him currently.
“I think it is healthy competition. I know for me, I normally grow when the competition is on. We have four good nines at the moment and if you look at the nines in the country in general, we have been good in that department. So for me it is healthy competition and it brings out the best in me.”
But he also made it quite clear that there is no time to slack off, especially with depth at the Boks at an all time high. And that if you don’t meet the standards set for you, you are likely to be out of the squad.
“The Springbok standards are high. I’m not going into detail about what we are doing but there is no time to slack or to drop intensity, it is always mental toughness first of all and then high standards,” he explained.
HOME SOIL
With new attack coach Tony Brown on board and sitting next to him, Williams knows the magnitude of Saturday’s sold out match at Loftus Versfeld, and knows what Brown wants from the side and the backs in particular.
“The vibe in the camp is quite exciting. Everyone is looking forward to this test. To be on home soil is quite special and at a sold-out Loftus, everyone is looking forward to that
“We need to see space better, that is the one thing that stood out for me as a nine. To identify space earlier and see it much earlier. It is one thing that starts from here.”
And whether his versatility (he has appeared for the Boks on the wing) is one of the aspects that keeps him there, Williams doesn’t mind, because as he made clear, he would do anything to stay in the squad.
“Whatever the Springboks ask or demand of me, I think I will be able to deliver and put myself in that position. It doesn’t matter if it is nine or wing, whatever they demand I will take it on.”
With that attitude and the standards that have been set, the Boks know what they demand from players, and players know it in return. And that has been the basis for so much of the success over the past six years for the side.