Williams: 'When the incident happened I really felt like that was my opportunity gone'

The medical team wouldn’t even allow Grant Williams to look at his phone for a week as they monitored his well-being, and how he just about managed to get back in the mix in time to make the tournament squad.

WORLD CUP DREAM: Grant Williams thought his RWC dream was over after an incident with Juan Cruz Mallia against Argentina. Pic: ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Steve Haag

If the Owen Farrell saga had everyone up in arms, and the absence of any ban for Scott Barrett had us puzzled, then it was the tackle shipped by Grant Williams in Johannesburg at the end of July that set the concerning tone for rugby in the run-in to this World Cup.

The Sharks scrum-half was winning just his third Test cap in the Rugby Championship game against Argentina in Johannesburg’s Ellis Park. This was his first start in a heavily-rotated Springbok side and he was partnering Mannie Libbok for the first time.