Brits wasted in front row
30 Mar 2006
Keo, in his News 24 column, writes that a change of position will bring Schalk Brits a change of fortunes.
In 1998 Nick Mallett toyed with the idea of playing Bob Skinstad as an inside centre.
He never went through with it and we will never know what Skinstad would have done in the midfield. Now there’s another forward with stunning skills, who should also think about moving into the backs.
Schalk Brits is a phenomenal footballer. He is not as good a hooker as he is a rugby player. His skills are more suited to wearing the No 12 jersey than the number 2 jersey. The criticism of him at hooker would not apply to Brits, the midfielder.
Every time I see Brits play I am more convinced the one fell off his jersey. That’s the one that goes before the two. In a season of woe and wobbles for the Stormers he has been the one player who has provided those magical moments.
Against the Highlanders he embarrassed their defence with a sidestep where his hips took the defender to London and his feet danced towards Singapore. The change in direction was stunning.
In that same game he set up a try-scoring chance by beating the first tackler with pace, sucking in two more defenders and then squeezing his pass out in the double tackle. It was the stuff you associate with the game’s most creative midfielders.
Brits has also shown strength in the tackle to score a try this season and serious gas over 20 metres to outstrip the Cheetahs defence and score. He has been the Stormers most effective runner in broken play or whenever he gets the ball in space.
What the hell is such a talent doing squashed between two fat boys in the front row?
When Skinstad threw the most outrageous of dummies to bamboozle Australian midfield maestro Tim Horan and score at Ellis Park in 1998 he displayed a skill few midfielders in world rugby had when attacking Horan’s defence.
Some of what Brits has done in this year’s Super 14 has been of similar vintage.
Realistically, Brits is going to struggle to make the Springbok World Cup squad as a hooker. John Smit, the Bok captain, is number one.
The Bulls Gary Botha is another who will be picked before Brits and even Brits’s regional teammate Hanyani Shimange is ahead of him in the national pecking order.
The criticism of Brits, the hooker, has been his lineout throwing and concerns about his scrumming. The national selectors, for the past 18 months, have not picked him because they consider him to lack the basic essentials of a test hooker.
But even they have been forced to acknowledge his qualities as a rugby player.
Currently Brits is the most explosive player in South Africa. He is also the most dynamic when he has the ball and a bit of space.
The crowd knows this and there is an expectancy of attacking brilliance every time Brits gets the ball. The guy this season got the Cape Town crowd more excited than any backline player wearing black, including the mercurial Jean de Villiers.
The Stormers coaching staff is too conservative to move Brits into the midfield and to give him a run. The same coaches run Western Province, so they won’t make the move either.
Any change of position will have to be driven by the player.
Brits needs to know that his international options as a hooker are limited, but as a footballer they know no limits.
South Africa missed a chance with Skinstad. It would be a shame if five years from now the talk is of another missed chance with Brits.
The opportunity is there to reward the qualities of this player and not knock the perceived deficiencies. As a Test hooker Brits is viewed as being vulnerable. As a Test midfielder he would be invaluable.
*Check out what Brits has to say about his Bok prospects in the latest issue of SA Rugby Magazine.
124 Comments
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30 Mar 2006, 06:09 am
wet the bed, keo?
agree, although i would prefer to see him in the 13 jersey with jean de villiers on his inside. number 8 or 7 would also suit his game better.
30 Mar 2006, 06:24 am
Has he ever played in the centres before?
If not, he’d be hard pressed to make this change. Even exceptionally talented players like Umaga and de Villiers were made to fulfill apprenticeships on the wing before being moved into the centre role.
There’s a lot more to being a centre than explosive running skills (ie: complex defensive lines, organisational skills etc…) and it would take him several years before he could realistically challenge the Springbok incumbents. Not saying he couldn’t do it but it would be a pity to miss out on his talents in S14 rugby for a couple seasons while he languishes in the vodacom cup trying to re-tread himself.
30 Mar 2006, 06:30 am
How much does he weigh? as a matter of interest?
He is really an awesome player. Another fantastic talent for the “WORLDS BEST COACH” to **** up (yes im talking about Fester) ha ha
30 Mar 2006, 06:32 am
One of those players that can play as a back or forward.Which is why he will allways be a utility player if selected for the Boks.
Brits would never find a place in the Bok Front row OR backrow with the talent we have there.
30 Mar 2006, 06:40 am
He should just be given license to play a less traditional hooker role and play a looser game, further away from the tight exchanges.
After a series of phases, having him pop up in the centre or flyhalf channel would definitely cause the opposition some headaches.
30 Mar 2006, 07:18 am
remember his try at loftus in the CC semie just before or after halftime in 2004. Brilliant. The problem though is if you have been a forward player all your life you tend to run lines towards the ball, for this seems to be natural – you have done this your whole playing career and you want to be in the ruck maul situation and he could just be caught out of position on the defense, when this happens.
the farce game this sat would have been the ideal situation, but SA coaches in general will not be taking this sort of risk.
Keo, would you have written this piece if he were still playing for the Lions?
30 Mar 2006, 07:26 am
ek sal maar wag tot die einde van die super 14 om tese of brits slim was om stormers toe tegaan want dis tussen hulle en die cats om tesien wie is die kakste.
30 Mar 2006, 07:28 am
Interesting article. He is a machine in open play agreed but would he be that good for 80mins?
30 Mar 2006, 07:32 am
@ Green Blood
I was thinking the same thing about this piece if he stayed with the Lions.
Anyway….
If not a centre why not a flanker (impact)?
Talent like this needs to be used.
Groot skade…
30 Mar 2006, 07:33 am
Hop Hop hoekom doen die keurders nie die regte ding nie.****** drop vir Smit hy is nie die no1 haker nie.
30 Mar 2006, 07:35 am
Dont agree Keo, 6,7 or maybe 8 yes but not in the backrow. He doesnt have the juice
30 Mar 2006, 07:40 am
@ bliksem
Smit like ek ook nie, maar die man is ‘n goeie kaptein (kyk net na die Bulle sonder Leonard, hulle is nie dieselde span nie). Dalk moet hulle so 20 – 30 min voor die einde. Smit stut toe skuif en Schalkie opstuur. Ek weet nie… maar die man moet game time kry.
30 Mar 2006, 07:41 am
bliksem
rugby = spansport JS not the number 1 maar hy het ander trades wat hom no 1 maak, ervaring en gesag. ken die spelpatrone, en die ander 14 ken hom….
maar ja ook nie my eerste keuse nie?
30 Mar 2006, 07:41 am
Wouldn’t want to doom Schalk Britz to be another utility back like Brent Russell, but he is just SOOOOO BLOODY talented!
Wouldn’t be interesting if we changed our mindset completely and used Schalk as a utility play, but as neither a forward or back. In other words, with 30 minutes left in the game, only scrum with 7 men, keeep the 7 backs, and add Schalk in as a roaming play-maker. He could where 12,5 on his back and enter the backline at fantastic angles, create overlaps by drawing more than just one defender etc…
I know there’s more to it than just that. He’s just one of those guys you HAVE to find a place for on the field.
30 Mar 2006, 07:41 am
goeie plan daai skuif vir barney oor na stut toe.is smit rerig so n goeie kaptein?hoeveel games het die sharks al net net verloor met hulle goeie kaptein in die span?
30 Mar 2006, 07:44 am
Moegrat – Agreed he is a brilliant footballer but I really can’t see him with all that pace which is required in the backline.
30 Mar 2006, 07:44 am
bliksem
valid. maar onthou span onder hom op bokvlak het 3N gewen. JS nou uit te gooi is om so goed om vir JW te se, AM is die nuwe hulp afrigter. jy weet mos cap en coach moet wees soos taxi en toeter!!
30 Mar 2006, 07:47 am
bigg jy gaan 4:44 splits moet hardloop by oceans om n 1:40 temaak.nie veel tyd vir kak praat dan nie.die dolle op daai pace kan n ou ook nie lekker chaf nie want hulle konsentreer teveel op die race.dis hoekom ek net n paar wedlope race en die ander as training runs vat.
30 Mar 2006, 07:54 am
And i dont think Gary Botha is our no. 2 hooker. Went to watch the Bulls against the Force last weekend and he looks unfit to me (didnt watch the game on the telly yet so maybe my opinion will differ if i do) Anyways just got tickets for the Stormers game half an hour ago and really looking forward to it, there wasnt alot of tickets left
30 Mar 2006, 07:55 am
Hou hom net waar hy is. Kyk na Mealamu wat nog ligter as hy is. Swak ingooi werk is nie n verskoning nie. Dit kan jy aanleer. Sy ander talente is n gawes waarmee jy gebore word.
Dik Smit is te lig vir stut.
Tussen stutte soos Os, Guthro, CJ, en met Vic en Bakkies agter hom is sy gewig nie n argument nie
30 Mar 2006, 07:55 am
ek is van mening dat as Brits wil skuif dan kan dit dalk na 6/7/8 wees maar hoegenaamd nie na senter toe nie. En dan sal hy ook maar sukkel om die huidige loosies te lig in die Vodacom span.
Ek weet NM het met BS gedink om hom na senter te skuif maar….. nie alles wat NM dink het gewerk nie (sou BS gewerk het op senter?? ek dink nie so nie en dis hoekom NM dit nie gedoen het nie.)
Niemand betwyfel Brits se talente nie….. as hy wil senter speel omdat hy nie die ander hakers kan lig nie?????? Wat is die kans dat hy die ander senters gaan lig????
Now your’e “taking the Stormers coaching staff out” for being to concervative to play him at centre?? If he want’s to play centre shouln’t he start in the Vodacom Cup and show his mettle -a player can’t just “walk into a team” – what about the centres who’s playing.??? Just now all the centres leave the Stormers????… can you think of tha gazillllllion posts on your site when the best cenres in SA leave the Stormers??? Chaos man…
Ag nee wat Keo, jy/s seker nie ernstig met hierdie artikel nie??? … maar dit behoort baie reaksie te kry….
30 Mar 2006, 07:56 am
Bliksem – I have to reply in english – My afrikaans writing is kuk. I have been training very hard for this. It’s the first time I am running and I have been trainig with a family friend who has run 17 two oceans Ultra’s, 8 comrades… She recons I can do it and after all our training. If I don’t then fine… This is a milestone for me and I am very proud of myself. I have now got the running bug and I am going to carry on and next year I would like to do the full two oceans…
30 Mar 2006, 07:58 am
Moergat,
ek neem aan dat jy die kaartjies verniet gekry het?
30 Mar 2006, 07:58 am
Bliksem – Send me your email and I will give you my real name so you can look in the paper so see my time!!!???
30 Mar 2006, 08:00 am
Ag fok bliksem waar was jy die hele 2005 toe die Smit debat gevoer en gewen was deur die ‘hy is nommer een’ kamp? Smaak my bliksem behoort aan die Strauli kant van bok keuses: kom ons kies enige ou wat `n goeie drie druk!
Jy gaan eenvoudig MOET begin dink voor jy skryf want anders klink jy net doosdom.
30 Mar 2006, 08:01 am
bigg its a dicey thing with splitss like that.you dont want to go out to hard in the first half and run negative splits just to run out of curry in the second half and not being able to run 4:44 splits.The best advice I can give you is to do a 3km warm up before the race and after the warmup to do strides.Streides are running 100 meter stretches at a 400m race pace.This gets your heart rate up and you will feel a lot more comfortable from the start.Its like pulling out a cars choke and having it idle before you drive to work in the mornings.But you have a experienced partner so that helps.I am sure she is knowldgeable but sadly not as much as me so if she needs some advice as well just give bliksem a shout.
30 Mar 2006, 08:02 am
he he, nah works out 220 rand a ticket. Got last weeks for free though but it is such a kak stadium to watch rugby at. (like watching rugby at a cricket staduim) I really do miss the South African grounds where it feels youre on the pitch and its cheaper as well
30 Mar 2006, 08:06 am
Wasn’t Bobo a flank before he was turned into a midfielder?
In terms of gas, I think there is often less difference in pace between a quick forward and an average back than we think. Just watch how Jacques Botes ran away from Ben Blair last week. And Brits has some serious pace for a forward, never mind a tight forward. Add to that his good hands, his step, his eye for a gap and his hard tackling – I don’t think he’s missing any qualities to become a midfielder.
I do, however, agree that he cannot simply be slotted into the backline and hope to perform. He’d need about a season of training to make the evolution. Mind you, right now Fester could swop the entire pack of forwards with the backs and very few people would notice.
30 Mar 2006, 08:06 am
shields 2005?ons is nou in 2006.en ja ek is n doos soos jy vermoed.you are wha you eat se hulle.
30 Mar 2006, 08:09 am
bigg,
Haven’t read all you “running posts” what distance are you planning on running??? The ultra??
I’ve done 19 2 Ocean ultras. The best advice i can give you is to go hell for leather till you get the firts breeze off the sea and then you slow down to a “killi shuffle”. (only joking)
Done a few silvers and i wish you all the luck – not to worry and make sure you enjoy it.
30 Mar 2006, 08:12 am
A few of the above comments have mentioned this before, but I would love to see a frontrow of Smit, Britz and CJ. IMO Smit is a better loosehead prop than hooker…
30 Mar 2006, 08:13 am
Staal ek is maar fokke skrikkerig vir n hell for leather aproach as ek n race die eerste keer doen veral as ek nie die roete ken nie.daars mos altyd n paar surprise slow poisen heuwels voor die einde.
30 Mar 2006, 08:16 am
Bliksem & Staal thanks for the advice appreciate it… Staal I am only running 2 oceans half, my first one. I have got the running bug and next year hope to do the Ultra…
30 Mar 2006, 08:17 am
Our coaches don’t have the balls to do something like this. They didn’t do it with Skinstad and they won’t do it now. They can’t even give Jean a try on flyhalf, which I still think would be an excelent possision for him.
The coaches know the k@k they will get when the move backfires.
30 Mar 2006, 08:18 am
bigg just go and enjoy it and see it as a learning experience.soak in te scenery and the vibe and just enjoy the moment.
30 Mar 2006, 08:21 am
bliksem,
stem saam – het eendag gegaan vir 3:45 splits en het geeindig met 8 krampe gelyk in sopnat weer – maar ‘n mens leer mos uit jou foute!!
Die beste sporting quote was ek van Nike gesien het was ‘m massiewe poster van Nike met ‘n foto van ‘n helse lang pas en ‘n jogger:
Daarop het gestaan – there’s no shortcut to a comeback – net ‘n drawwer sal dit verstaan!!!!
30 Mar 2006, 08:23 am
KEO
I just heard now of the passing away of John Daniels`(Lions) mother. Everyone please take notice and keep him and his family in your prayers. Can we have a notice or a site where people can give their condolences on keo.co.za
KEO ASSIST PLEASE
30 Mar 2006, 08:26 am
Bliksem – Do you still run? I can’t wait to see the vibe. I hear it great
30 Mar 2006, 08:26 am
staal ek hardloop mos een jaar pta news classic.lekker pappie spring daar weg met n spoed.sub 4 min splits.toe slaan ek daai lekker lang opdraande,nie baie steil nie maar lank.was ****** lucky om weg tekom met n 1:45 daai dag.Soutpansbergweg ook,hy is n fokop.
30 Mar 2006, 08:26 am
The Brits switch will never work, I remember a few years they wanted to make Dale Sandton a full back but he just lacked that extra bit of pace that a fullback needs. Also he could never master the up ‘n under
30 Mar 2006, 08:28 am
Keo
you fail to say that Mallet’s obsession with Skinstad was the start of his fall. He ( Mallet )went crazy he broke up a winning combination Venter, Erasmus and Teichman
30 Mar 2006, 08:28 am
Ja I do.I am actually planning to do a race in NZ and Aus if there are any over there in Dec.Just for know gonna concentrate on 10kms and to start running sub forties.
30 Mar 2006, 08:29 am
Yes, Moegrat. I remember that. The Boland coach was impressed with Sandton’s positional play and vision as well as the way he joined the line at pace. His kicking out of hand needed work though.
30 Mar 2006, 08:31 am
If the Stormers don’t have the balls, Brits could simply play centre for the Spears once his team gets relegated…
30 Mar 2006, 08:31 am
bigg a last peace of advice.I reckon if i am running in the cape and standing in a crowded starting field I would make sure that I am surrounded by females.dont want some *** freak molesting you before the race starts.
30 Mar 2006, 08:32 am
Dale Sandton at full back is like moving Brent Russell to prop. It is so obvious that switch would never work.
30 Mar 2006, 08:33 am
Cant believe a hooker of that quality got his Springbok jacket. Life is unfair, poor Botha
30 Mar 2006, 08:33 am
They should try Brits at 8 … quick off the mark with power and a good side-step.
Luke Watson probably played some of his best rugby at 8 for the Sharks. Brits could play a very similar game.
While we are on the stormers … what’s with the male cheerleaders – is that for the crowd or the players?
30 Mar 2006, 08:36 am
That’s the Stormers bench Kevin
30 Mar 2006, 08:36 am
Bliksem – I will look for a couple of chicks to stand with yes… CPT fagots try touch me I will do a Chuck Norris round house kick…
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