WATCH: Did this Springbok scrumhalf just punch his ticket to the Rugby World Cup?

As evidenced by this magnificent try compilation, Springbok scrumhalf Grant Williams has been in top form this season. But is it enough to gain Test selection this season?

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AT THE CENTRE OF SOUTH AFRICA’S SCRUMHALF PUZZLE

Grant Williams is at best, or at least should be, the fourth best Springbok scrumhalf at the moment. There’s Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Cobus Reinach and Herschel Jantjies.

De Klerk remains South Africa’s No 1 scrumhlaf, with Hendikse having leapt above Reinach and Jantjies in the pecking order to No 2.

Now here’s when it gets tricky. With Hendrikse injured and Williams’ current form eclipsing that of Reinach and Jantjies, many would consider that as a fair indicator that he should now be Faf’s understudy, at least until Hendrikse is back from injury.

While that won’t be decided until the Springboks play later in the year, Williams has done his Test selection chances no harm.

The 26-year-old scored nine tries for the Sharks during the regular season of the URC and could well extend that tally if he touches down again in their quarter-final against Leinster this weekend.

WATCH WILLIAMS IN FULL FLOW:

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SPRINGBOKS FIXTURES IN 2023

Rugby Championship:

✈ 8 July: Springboks vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)

✈ 15 July: Springboks vs New Zealand (Venue and time TBC)

✈ 29 July: Springboks vs Argentina (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

World Cup warm-ups:

✈ 5 August: Springboks vs Argentina (Vélez Stadium, Buenos Aires)

✈ 19 August: Springboks vs Wales (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)

✈ 25 August: Springboks vs New Zealand (Twickenham Stadium, London)

Rugby World Cup:

✈ 10 September: South Africa vs Scotland (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille) 

✈ 17 September: South Africa vs Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux) 

✈ 23 September: South Africa vs Ireland (Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris) 

✈ 1 October: South Africa vs Tonga (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)

The World Cup playoffs will take place at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille and Stade de France in Paris from 14 October to 28 October. 

The teams contesting these knockout matches will be determined as the World Cup progresses, so it is not certain whether or not the Springboks will advance beyond the pool stage of the competition. But the Springboks could potentially go all the way and contest the 2023 World Cup final. 

Quarter-finals sequence of play is as follows:QF 1 — Winner Pool C vs Runner up Pool D
QF 2 — Winner Pool B vs Runner up Pool A
QF 3 — Winner Pool D vs Runner up Pool C
QF 4 — Winner Pool A vs Runner up Pool B

Semi-finals sequence of play is as follows:
SF 1 — Winner QF1 v Winner QF2
SF 2 — Winner QF3 v Winner QF4

Third place playoff:
Loser SF 1 vs Loser SF 2

World Cup final:
Winner SF 1 vs Winner SF 2