World Cup debutants Kurt-Lee Arendse and Grant Williams are counting their blessings after both made the cut for the Springbok squad to help defend the Webb Ellis Cup.
They were last week named by Jacques Nienaber as two of 10 players in a 33-man contingent set to make their first appearance at rugby’s showpiece, kicking off in France in September.
Left winger Arendse continued his remarkable scoring record by grabbing three tries as the Boks put Australia to the sword in the 2023 Rugby Championship opener, while scrumhalf Williams emerged as an exciting prospect in three international outings.
The latter’s first Test start lasted mere seconds – he was concussed in a collision with Argentina fullback Juan Cruz Mallia – but the speedy halfback is set to feature again in the upcoming warm-up matches, against Wales and New Zealand.
Speaking before the Boks jetted from OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg on Saturday for the clashes in the UK, the 27-year-old Williams told IOL: “I built up game confidence against Australia and New Zealand and felt ready for the Argentina match, which was my first start in the Springbok jersey … I felt prepared.
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“Then it lasted 10 seconds. I battled with it [thinking that I wasn’t going to make it]. It was probably the toughest challenge for me. I thought that the Argentina game would’ve been my only chance for a World Cup place.
“God’s hand was over me. I can play, I can walk. Things could’ve turned out very differently. But I am standing here, and I made the World Cup squad.”
Arendse had grasped every rugby opportunity in his path, going from playing for the University of the Western Cape in the Varsity Shield to representing the Blitzboks in the World Sevens Series.
His career trajectory took off after he joined the Vodacom Bulls in 2020, and the 27-year-old flyer credits the late Bok legend Chester Williams – as UWC head coach – with laying the platform for his success.
Arendse added: “At that stage I had nothing, and he gave me the opportunity to play Varsity Cup, Varsity Sevens and study [at UWC]. I will be forever grateful for that.
“I first touched a rugby ball at the age of eight years old. A school teacher asked if I wanted to try rugby. I tried it, and the first game I enjoyed so much that I decided this is what I wanted to do.
“And here I am today, still enjoying the game like I did the first time I played. It is really special to be able to go to the World Cup. I still can’t really describe what I am feeling.”
Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
