Grant Williams. (Photo by Michael Bradley/AFP)
- Bok Reserve scrumhalf Grant Williams says there were enough positives to take advantage of losing to the All Blacks.
- Williams acknowledges that South Africa lost the air battle.
- The Boks trailed 20-3 at halftime but fought well to “win” the second half.
Grant Williams said the Springboks will get some positives from their 35-20 defeat to the All Blacks in Oakland on Saturday.
The injured Boks will look to bounce back against Argentina in their final match of the Rugby Championship in Johannesburg on Saturday, July 29.
The Springboks’ hopes of building on their strong start to the competition against Australia at Mount Smart Stadium were dashed, as New Zealand started with a 20-3 halftime lead, setting the stage for a 35-20 lead. victory.
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Asked specifically about the air fight in the match, Williams – who replaced Faf de Klerk in the 53rd minute – said: “Personally I think we could have done better in the air fight. It’s something they’ve made changes to in their game. The team will take the positives We can take advantage of the game and build on that.”
The defeat may have disappointed the Bucks and their fans, but Williams said it was an honor to be part of the team and that he was as accommodating as he could be.
“I joined the Boks in 2021, so I’ve been part of the group for quite some time,” said Williams.
“I really enjoy it and learn a lot.”
When asked about the recipe for him to join the team smoothly, despite being one of the youngsters in the team, Williams said: “The support from the team management and the people around me is great and it makes it easier for the players.”
The Springboks will play Los Pumas in back-to-back clashes in the next three weeks, with the second test in Buenos Aires on Saturday 5 August also the first of their three Rugby World Cup warm-ups.
The Boks will take on Wales in Cardiff (Saturday 19th August) and the All Blacks in London (Friday 25th August) in their remaining matches before making the trip to France for the exciting internationals in September and October.