It will be a full circle moment for Devon Williams when he runs out onto the Mbombela Stadium pitch for today’s Currie Cup clash between the Blue Bulls and Pumas (5.15pm start).
Williams, who hails from Pniel near Stellenbosch, left his beloved Western Province to re-establish his provincial career with the Pumas.
The Paarl Boys’ High product spent about seven years in Mpumalanga, where he was a crucial part of their Currie Cup-winning team in 2022.
Williams, who developed into a top-class fullback following his early days as a wing in Cape Town, impressed so much that he was initially drafted on loan to the Bulls by Jake White.
That developed into a full-time contract last season, and the 32-year-old played well enough to even keep Springbok stalwart Willie le Roux out of the starting line-up at times as the Pretoria side reached the United Rugby Championship final.
But as he begins another season at Loftus Versfeld, Williams will return to his old stomping ground to guide a much-changed Bulls backline against a Pumas side desperate for a victory.
Jimmy Stonehouse’s team come off a 55-12 thrashing at the hands of the Golden Lions at Ellis Park last week, and need to get back to winning ways to stay in semi-final contention.
While the unbeaten Bulls top the log with 26 points, the Pumas are fourth on 18 points, just one ahead of the Sharks, and will be hyped up to get a victory at home today.
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To that end, it was not surprising that Bulls coach Phiwe Nomlomo bolstered his side yesterday with Williams, while captain Nizaam Carr also returns at No 8 after sitting out last week’s 55-21 triumph over the Griffons.
In other backline changes, Springbok star Canan Moodie moves from fullback to right wing, Cornel Smit and Chris Barend Smit are the new centres, while quicksilver scrumhalf Keagan Johannes gets a welcome start.
Apart from Carr up front, Merwe Olivier slots in at blindside flank for Cyle Brink, while Dylan Smith and Joe van Zyl are back in the front row.
“We’ve got Devon at the back – he knows the conditions pretty well. He played here for years, and we think he is going to be a great asset for us, with his knowledge of the surroundings,” Nomlomo said.
“We’ve got the Currie Cup captain returning as well, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Nemo (Carr) goes this weekend.
“Canan is at home at 13, 14, 11 and 15, so this week with Devon back, he shifts back to wing, and we are also looking for massive contributions from him.
“There’s no rush (with him). Canan hasn’t played for a couple of months, so it’s about getting him to touch the ball and being involved in the game, as there are bigger honours awaiting him.
“The biggest thing about them is that you are always waiting for a reaction, and we know how they play when they are here – so it is going to be a completely different ball game.
“They’ve had a full SA Cup and a few warm-up games, and the toll on their legs is a massive thing. But that goes out of the window when they play the Blue Bulls, so it’s going to be a massive challenge.”
Bulls Team
15 Devon Williams 14 Canan Moodie 13 Cornel Smit 12 Chris Barend Smit 11 Sibongile Novuka 10 Boeta Chamberlain 9 Keagan Johannes 8 Nizaam Carr (captain) 7 Merwe Olivier 6 Nama Xaba 5 Jannes Kirsten 4 Sintu Manjezi 3 Mornay Smith 2 Joe van Zyl 1 Dylan Smith.
Bench: 16 Juanne Else 17 Jacques van Rooyen 18 Khutha Mchunu 19 Cyle Brink 20 Mpilo Gumede 21 Bernard van der Linde 22 Jaco van der Walt 23 Katlego Letebele.