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'It would be a nightmare to defend against Schalk if he picks the ball up off the base of the scrum and uses his footwork'
Jacques Burger believes it would be a tactical masterstroke for South Africa to deploy veteran hooker Schalk Brits at No8 during the World Cup in Japan.
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Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, who has named his team for a warm-up match against the Japanese on Friday, has hinted that the 38-year-old former Saracens hooker could play in the back row during the tournament to give the first-choice players in those positions a break, particularly against minnow pool opponents Namibia and Canada.
The rest of the group is made up of New Zealand and Italy and those tier one nations will require the full complement of Springbok starters as Erasmus attempts to guide his country to a third World Cup triumph.
The head coach received flak for urging Brits to come out of retirement to provide his squad with much-needed experience at hooker and he even handed him the captaincy for the recent win over Argentina.
Now, it appears Erasmus has another major task for 13-cap Brits to undertake and Burger, his former Saracens team-mate, is confident the hooker can make a seamless switch into a role that he undertook with such passion and commitment in 38 Test games for Namibia.
Hard saying goodbye to the family. Thank you for all your Sacrifices colindabrits. On a positive not you can drive my @landroverza till I am back. ?? @ Cape Town International-Departures https://t.co/8PrHVxvrVk
— Schalk Brits (@SchalkBrits) August 26, 2019
Burger’s face carries the scars of years of back row foraging and he admits the famously wide Brits smile could take a battering once he moves into a No8 role. He said: “It would be a nightmare to defend against Schalk if he picks the ball up off the base of the scrum and uses his footwork and everything else in his armoury.
“He could be a real weapon for the Springboks and a massive asset. Schalk can play anywhere and is one of those guys who is so talented that everything is easy for him and that is very frustrating for the rest of us!
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“He has a great competitive mentality and while he is very chilled off the pitch, when he plays he is extremely competitive and I would have him in any position in my team just to have him involved. He has this kindness about him and is a really good bloke and can make lots of things happen when he gets onto the pitch.
“We all know what Schalk can do with the ball in hand and a lot of people don’t see what he does without the ball. He puts in a lot of work and is very physical for a guy of his size and that was always against him when he was playing in South Africa. Rassie has moved past that and has seen what Schalk can bring to the team and has a lot of rugby smarts about him.”
Burger was never a prime lineout option in his career and would relish the sight of Brits, who has spent his career throwing into the lineout, being used as a jumper in Japan. “He is definitely not going to jump at the lineout but I do hope they let him try for one throw so that he can see how high it is up there,” quipped Burger, who is now based back in Namibia.
Rassie Erasmus will show Japan the utmost respect when South Africa play them on Friday for the first time since 2015https://t.co/SHXbYu53Ei
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 3, 2019
“I believe that I improved my looks with all the knocks I took playing in the back row and Schalk has been blessed that his pretty little face has not taken too much damage. I’m sure he won’t take a backward step for anyone playing at No8 and I’m really excited to see what he can bring to the World Cup.
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“A lot of people felt he never got his opportunity when he was younger and in the form of his life and to get this opportunity at 38 is fantastic. To see my great friend get this chance is wonderful. He will do really well.”
WATCH: The RugbyPass Don’t Mess With Jim series has returned with an episode featuring Jim Hamilton previewing the World Cup, the best and worst haircuts in rugby and much more
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
7 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
13 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
13 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to comments