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, 08:38 am
Bliksem is so ugly not even a street kid would touch him for a thousand bucks.
30 Mar 2006, 08:39 am
bliksem,
het aandag saam met ‘n vriend van my 2 Oceans gehardloop (novice). Ek het hom vertel hoe ongemaklik dit is om ‘n nommer 2 te neem as jou bene so styf en seer is en die tyd loooooop – en daars nie altyd ‘n toilet naby nie – toe besluit hy om 5 immodiums te drink die aand voor die tyd!!!
4 dae daarna het die man eers ‘n draai geloop!!! ons lag vandag nog daaroor.
bigg,
take bliksems advice to heart, relaaaaaax and enjoy and most important – don’t the “macho man approach” ie: try to win the ladies – most of them are very good and fast – just watch them as they glide past.
And if its hot – drink drink drink drink. Err on the causion side.
(Hel ek hoop my spelling is reg op die post)
30 Mar 2006, 08:41 am
bliksem (45)
skitterend
30 Mar 2006, 08:42 am
Oom Ian Kirkpatrick when he coached maties a few years ago wanted to move Schalla to centre… Schalla refused saying the old man was loosing the plot… Still to this day every time oom kirky speaks to schalk, the first thing he mentions is, when you changing positions Schalla…
That old man knows his Rugby…
30 Mar 2006, 08:43 am
i do not think brits must move,stormers scrum doing very good! he MUST work on his line outs! a.bekker getting chopped DISGRACE!! i want to see what g.brits can do in the tight! bekker was the hardworker and ross the attacker they compliment each other extremly well!
30 Mar 2006, 08:45 am
Bliksem is so ugly when he comes to Cape Town the **** leave town.
30 Mar 2006, 08:47 am
Bliksem is so ugly, when he comes to Cape Town the South Easter does an about turn and leaves town in a North Wester.
30 Mar 2006, 08:48 am
Bigg,
DOnt know if you’ve driven the route or not, if you havent here is a few details that might come in handy.
The first 10km are a breeze and a really nice run. Just after 10km you start to climb, look after yourself between 11km and 15km, from there on it really is a lovely run.
Only hassle I had during the last 6km is that the road is forever at an angle so my knees took a little strain, but not too bad.
Hope you have a fabulous run, its the 16th is it?
Drop me a mail on paul@blue-inc.co.za and I’ll have a look at the results.
30 Mar 2006, 08:49 am
kevin w,
ek sukkel self deesdae om te onderskei tussen die spelers en die cheerleaders….
30 Mar 2006, 08:50 am
Talking about Schalk, i’ve never seen him run over anyone and the guy is bloody huge!!! Why is that?? Body position or is it just that he doesnt have the strength??
30 Mar 2006, 08:50 am
REdcard – Thanks for the advice – I have run allot of the route especially southern cross drive. Race is on 15 April and I can’t wait… I will drop you a mail shortly, thanks
30 Mar 2006, 08:51 am
Bliksem is so ugly, when he comes to Cape Town Table mountain covers itself in its famous table cloth
30 Mar 2006, 08:52 am
Bigg another thing to add to Staal’s post.
Running between 1:45 and 1:55 the ladies are really ‘fit’. The faster you run the smaller the boobs and the slower you run the bigger their asses.
30 Mar 2006, 08:52 am
Moergat,
watter Schalk?
30 Mar 2006, 08:52 am
PLEASE…this is a rugby site!
30 Mar 2006, 08:53 am
Schalk Burger Stan
30 Mar 2006, 08:54 am
boe-hoe-hoe-ja!
30 Mar 2006, 08:54 am
Bliksem, noem vir my ‘n beter haker (en kapt) as JS in ons land asb. GB is onfiks en uiters voorspelbaar in sy losspel. HS is ook goed, maar nie eers 1e keuse by stormpies nie en SB lack van die basics. Dit is regtig die enigste kandidate. SB is op aanval briljant, JS weer op verdediging. GB en HS, geen spesiale eienskappe buiten vir konstante spel… Dink voor jy praat.
30 Mar 2006, 09:00 am
Boeja gaan pis iewers anders. Generally is almal hier al vriende en chat, meestal rugby, maar nie limited daarby nie.
30 Mar 2006, 09:03 am
Brits is brilliant from broken play, in the context of forward play.
Play him in the structures of a backline and he will not even be noticed.
He needs More gym and more throwing practice, he has the time as a full time pro.
30 Mar 2006, 09:05 am
Redcard – LOL
30 Mar 2006, 09:05 am
Rednik,
I dont recall him throwing that kak in the CC last year? Perhaps the just dont train that well in CT?
30 Mar 2006, 09:06 am
sampioenman….
ek is nuut op hierdie site!!
ek het geregistreer om oor rugby te gesels!!
ek wil glad nie kwaai vriende maak nie! maar op die stormers se website klink dit soos n dating website! wil net nie he dit moet hier ook gebeur nie!
30 Mar 2006, 09:07 am
Dawn please invite Boeja on a date.
30 Mar 2006, 09:11 am
boeja,
moetie stressie – jy’s baie welkom.
Ons raak maar verveeld met artikels soos hierdie.
30 Mar 2006, 09:12 am
Boeja, en daars BAIE sulke artikels van die spindoctors af…
30 Mar 2006, 09:13 am
Ahh. In that case, verskoon. Welkom. Jy ken seker ook die uitdrukking: Fit in or f… Maar ek verstaan wat jy sê oor die stormers. Ek het darem nie daai probleem by die sharks s’n nie. Net daar praat min mense die TAAL.
30 Mar 2006, 09:14 am
dankie staal!! lees vandag in die burger artikel oor stormers,lyk of o hairless one nou vir al die ouens die skuld begin gee! hy word aangehaal waar hy sê bekker is nie net daar vir lynstane,as ek reg onthou kry hy meer van die opposisie se balle as sy eie balle want dit kom nooit tot by hom nie!? ek dink s.brits is n great speler maar die basiese dinge kort so bietjie skaafwerk!!
30 Mar 2006, 09:20 am
boeja,
ek dink hy maak ‘n groot fout met Bekker. daai ou het rugby geskiedenis agter hom en hy kan ‘n “groot” speler word – wat my verstom is dat KvdM dit nie raaksien nie 0f nie wil raaksien nie.
Dropping Bekker is like shooting the messenger !!!! Die boodskap is eintlik dat Brits nie sy basics reg doen nie soos jy se.
sampioenman,
ek het al ‘n paar toetse gaat kyk daar by die Tjarks, baie geniet—onthou jy daai comeback van die bokke teen die Ab so ‘n paar jaar terug. Man dit was great.
30 Mar 2006, 09:23 am
“Brits wasted in front row”
Keo do you have any evidence to back up this claim? Breathalyzer or blood tests? Did the props complain about his breath? You cant just go around accusing people of drunkeness!
30 Mar 2006, 09:23 am
Yup die een waar ons drie driee in die tweede helfte gescore het? Ek dink ons was iets soos 18 – 0 agter en het toe gewen… As ons van dieselfde een praat! Rugby daar is bietjie anders, die skare is absoluut psycho oor rugby!
30 Mar 2006, 09:24 am
Hehe, funny man Ding!
30 Mar 2006, 09:29 am
Best comeback in a S12 match was the Stormer against the Waratahs (i think) where Neil de Kock moved to the wing. Remembered i snuck away from work that day and got so hammered didnt even go back
30 Mar 2006, 09:33 am
i remember that game Moegrat, didnt the Stormers have a player sin binned and that why Neil De Kock was moved to the wing, and they scored a try that started from their own 22.
30 Mar 2006, 09:35 am
staal jy sharks fan? ek dink nogal hul het baie monde toe gespeel laaste paar games!
het j gesien hoe sleg was cheetah afskoppe teen stormers?kobus moes nie v bekker gedrop het!dink naas gaan great wees!maar ek het gedink MJ en JdV moes op senter gebly het!cape argus het met jake gepraat waar hy ook se s.brits nie opsie vir bok hy kan nie eens sy springers vind!voel jammer vir hom maar as hy dit reg kry gaan hy fantasties wees! vertel my nou eers wie gaan die 2oceans hardloop??
30 Mar 2006, 09:48 am
Spot on KEO – EXACTLY my sentiments for the past months. Imagine this lad at centre and Habana outside him, such pace unleashed in the centre, they would create havoc & fear. Then outside these lads you have NOKWE[ REVITALISED] & chavangha – wow
30 Mar 2006, 09:48 am
boeja,
sorry man, my bloed is blou – soos in ligblou. Mis vir baie jare nie ‘n toets nie en geniet dit baie in Durban want ons maak dit gewoonlik sommer ‘n golf en scuba-naweek.
Tjarks is baie goed hierdie jaar – dink hulle gaat nog bo die bulls eindig. Niemaand wil iets daaroor se nie maar ek wonder wat is Straueli se invloed?? Of is dit net DM wat die verskil maak?
30 Mar 2006, 09:51 am
Streali is die ou wat seker maak die regte spelers eindig in Natal op…
30 Mar 2006, 09:52 am
ktb, hou kak praat. Chavanga en Nokwe is gratis driee vir spanne soos die AB’s, Eng. en Oz.
30 Mar 2006, 10:18 am
I must disagree. You have in Schalk Brits, potentially the most explosive tight 5 player in world rugby. Why not work on his deficiencies, and turn him into the best damn hooker the world has ever seen?
You then just need to get the 2 props and locks to work a little harder in the tight-loose to give him the freedom to own the loose – and play as a 3rd centre/4th loosie. Plus a loose forward like AJ would help balance out the pack, as he could chip in with some of the T5 duties.
As for the will he be selected question? Well Jake has proven himself to be very conservative in bench selections, but I would be awefully tempted to play both Brits and Russel off my bench. I cant think of 2 players I’d rather have on the bench to help turn a match in the last quarter.
Fact is John Smit owns the no 2 jersey – but why not have Brits on the bench? If Smit was injured, I’d still go with Botha or Shimmie – probably Botha given his provincial ties to the bok locks, but neither offer a dynamic alternative.
30 Mar 2006, 10:26 am
Spook
Yes i think you were right, cant remember who they sin binned but I found respect for de Kock that day, pity that he’s dropped the ball since
30 Mar 2006, 10:32 am
There is no denying he has fantastic skill and handling, but to start pegging him as a centre is wayyyyy premature. Just because a guy can sidestep and throw a dummy or offload in the tackle doesn’t mean he’ll make a good centre.
If that was the criteria, then every one of the New Zealand team would make a great centre. It is a worrying indication of the lack of skill in SA that not every one of the players at this level cannot offload in the tackle effectively???
I’d stick Brits at flank (I believe he has played there successfully before?) before I ever considered him a centre. But that’s just my opinion.
30 Mar 2006, 10:34 am
i quickly scanned through the comments and keo’s question or statement is probably not that far off.
danie gerber reckons brits is the most balanced runner in SA rugby today.
he reckons our players are getting it wrong with their balance and highlights the way tennis and squash players move as examples of how rugby players should run – step of either foot without loosing any pace.
he has a point.
on the other hand, brits never played center, he has played as a loosie in school if i remember the article correctly and he is also on record saying he loves playing hooker because he is so involved in the game (line outs, scrums, tight loose, broken play, etc). he has no ambition to change that which is also fair enough i suppose.
great talent but i agree with one or two guys here, he needs to work hard on the basics of hooker play.
30 Mar 2006, 10:38 am
Sampioen
You hit the nail on the head, I have been wondering the same.
Perhaps a combination of both DM and Potato Head.
DM was said to be a good coach at Tuks.
30 Mar 2006, 10:43 am
Staal,
Waaroor is jy jammer?
Jy is nooit jammer as jy blou is nie. Jy is geseend en bevoorreg…
30 Mar 2006, 10:45 am
en gellukig om teen die force te wen stan
30 Mar 2006, 10:47 am
Yep Dingman, I don’t know why Keo is having a go at Brits for being wasted in the front row. He may have had a few, but he could still function okay. I mean, look at Koelkas van Biljon. That guy is seriously off his tits in the front row all the time. Can’t see straight, let alone throw straight.
30 Mar 2006, 10:56 am
nah, this is too revolutionary, there’s thinking out of the box and then there’s being a nutter.
I’m a great fan of Brits, but inside centre?
I’m not sure i agree with all those that say he’s such a bad hooker, just cause he’s smaller than most does not mean he is not powerful and effective in the tight-loose. Blokes like Serge Betsen, Hill and Njanga aren’t huge guys, but tremendously powerful.
30 Mar 2006, 10:59 am
Screw centre make him the coach.
30 Mar 2006, 11:02 am
Red card, you make a valid point. This is obviously part of festers confusion strategy. confuse your opponents by unsportingly withholding and falsifying team lists and making sure your own locks dont know the lineout calls. this will create an environment of utter chaos which will enable the game to become a lottery that could only be decided by a dodgy referee decision.
If only Greef could play and add to the Chaos.
THE PRAWVINS BOYS KNOW THAT THEY ARE EVEN KAKKER THAN LUDICROUS’S RABBLE!
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