Champion performer
20 Jul 2011
JON CARDINELLI says Schalk Brits should go to the World Cup with the Springboks.
As kick-off approached, Schalk Brits made up his mind. He was going to enjoy the game no matter what. The stakes couldn’t have been higher for Saracens in their second consecutive Premiership final, and they would be looking to their South African talisman to provide the necessary spark.
‘How could I have been anything but confident in my own ability?’ he asks, as if it’s the most obvious notion in the world. ‘Opportunities to play in a championship game don’t come around too often, and you have to enjoy yourself; you have to jol all you can. I never want it to be a case of looking at myself in the mirror afterwards and saying I could have given more. You have to leave it all out on the field. No ifs. No buts.’
By the final whistle, Brits had set Twickenham on fire and Saracens had captured the cup. The praise that followed his Man of the Match performance confirmed his contribution as wholehearted and inspired. Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall described him as ‘Superman’, but Leicester scrumhalf Ben Youngs was closer to the mark. Youngs said that the Saracens hooker was the difference between the two sides, calling Brits ‘phenomenal’ and ‘a man possessed’.
The word ‘possessed’ certainly does Brits justice. It’s a unique energy that runs through his body; an indomitable attitude and spirit that sets him apart. For the past two seasons, Brits has gone above and beyond the call of front-row duty. He can often be found among the Saracens’ backs, that unnatural turn of speed and other-worldly sidestep leaving lesser mortals grasping at a phantom. And as was the case during injury time of that Premiership final, he can be counted on to make tackle after tackle in a pressure situation.
Brits has left his mark on England. Apart from a Premiership winner’s medal, he was named one of the tournament’s three best players of the 2010-11 season, while his electrifying try against Gloucester in April was voted the finest of the campaign. Writing in his column for The Guardian, Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards included Brits in his Premiership team of the tournament. It was a big compliment and an even bigger statement from somebody involved with a Wales team that will face the Springboks at the World Cup.
It’s strange that people are still asking what’s next for the versatile player. The answer seems obvious. For Brendan Venter, who remains involved with Saracens even though he quit his director of rugby post last December, Brits deserves a Springbok recall.
‘People have called Schalk Brits the best hooker in England. I don’t agree with that. He is the best player in England, period. In fact, he is up there with the best in Europe,’ Venter says. ‘I’d be amazed if you told me you can’t find a place for him in a World Cup squad of 30. Few forwards have his skill set and versatility. Besides what he offers you at hooker, he can come on as a blindside flank, or even a centre in emergencies, and break open the game with a moment of magic. Also, people tend to focus on his attacking qualities, but they often forget that he is a defensive giant who can shift the momentum of the match with a big hit. Why would you not want a player with that capacity at your disposal?’
Peter de Villiers has his reasons. Less than a week after Saracens beat Leicester to win the Premiership, De Villiers declared Brits no better than any of the other South African hookers competing in Super Rugby. As usual, the Bok coach struggled in an attempt to qualify what most would recognise as an outrageous statement.
‘He is a brilliant player,’ offered De Villiers, ‘but with the state of the game here, in whose place would you select him when you have John Smit, Bismarck du Plessis, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Adriaan Strauss and Bandise Maku?
‘If Schalk had played for us last year, and then played in this country this year, then we would have known. He made the choice of going overseas. He is so unlucky. I believe he can make a difference, but he is playing in a position where we have more than enough depth.’
While De Villiers is right to boast about South Africa’s hooking depth, he’s wrong about the pecking order. Smit will captain the team at the World Cup, and Du Plessis has made a strong claim for that starting hooker position. The Boks will take a third hooker to New Zealand and if that selection is based on performance rather than political reasons or geographical location, Brits is the obvious choice. As Venter suggests, his versatility can be an asset, and by excelling in the most testing of set-piece conditions he’s already shown himself to be a fine scrum and lineout exponent.
‘We’ve been one of the strongest scrums in the Premiership and Schalk fed 11 from 11 lineouts in a major final,’ says Venter. ‘I think the perception that Schalk is weak at the set piece is flawed. I can’t remember him letting the Boks down in this regard. People will always find ways of justifying their perception, even in light of evidence to the contrary.’
Brits admits that many of his technical improvements have been made since he joined Saracens in 2009. Playing alongside Italy prop Carlos Nieto and having a scrum coach like former Bok tighthead Cobus Visagie did wonders for his set-piece game.
‘I’m 100kg, so any success I enjoy at scrum time is going to be down to technique rather than brute power,’ he says. ‘You won’t survive in the northern hemisphere if you can’t scrum. The referees encourage it, and there are often long, drawn out battles where the dominant team is allowed to push the opposition as much as 20m. It’s not like Super Rugby where refs try to speed the game along; there is a real emphasis on the scrum in the northern leagues.’
As his recent performances will show, he’s managed to better his scrumming without sacrificing the flair that made him such a standout for the Stormers. Brits argues that up north, you need to employ different styles for different seasons. In the winter months, a slow grinding, territorial game is required because to play expansively would be counter-productive. When the weather is better in the period before and after winter, there are more opportunities to run the ball.
‘I think I’ve developed to the point where I’m comfortable in either style,’ he says. ‘I’m happy to play it close and pick and drive in winter, but when the weather is favourable, I will have a full go. It also comes down to what the team needs in terms of our game plan and approach.
‘What has been great at Saracens is that every player is asked to play to their strengths. There are times when I’m out of position, but in those situations it’s for a particular reason. I’m heavily involved in the forward battles at the collisions and set piece, but I also tend to stay deep for the counter-attack, because that’s where my other strengths can come into play. Credit must go to Saracens for giving me that kind of freedom. You’re encouraged to play within the team structures, but there is still room to express yourself.’
It comes back to Venter’s inference that the Springbok selectors are just plain ignorant. Why wouldn’t you want this kind of talent at your disposal? Are the Springboks really so well stocked that Brits doesn’t deserve a place in the World Cup squad?
How many other players are there in South African, and even world rugby, who are, to requote Youngs, ‘possessed’?
‘Nobody is ever going to be satisfied with just three Tests,’ Brits says, referring to his short stint with the Boks in 2008. ‘I’ve played a lot for the Barbarians; it’s the kind of game that’s tailor-made for me, but it just can’t compare to proper Test rugby. I want to play in the big games where the Boks take on the All Blacks or England. Those are the types of games you live for.
‘But I can’t tell Peter de Villiers to pick me, that’s his decision. All I can do is ensure that I always give of my best. I won’t ever stop enjoying myself. I won’t ever stop trying.’
– This article first appeared in the July issue of SA Rugby magazine. The August issue will be on sale from Wednesday, 27 July.
45 Comments
20 Jul 2011, 06:11 am
I would only have this dragon at 13 for the Boks, to tell the truth
20 Jul 2011, 06:12 am
He’s guilty of being a bit too loose… constantly playing full-back and centre… testament to his tight 5 one could add…
Adriaan Strauss is more suited to test rugby… he has it all too… and they both offer arguably the same off the bench as excellent impact players… so where Brits would fit in with the impactless Ralepelle clearly not going to be dropped any-time soon only JC can tell us?
20 Jul 2011, 06:24 am
Kanko=12; Britz=13
….But thats only if we’re allowed to try new things (not sure if its allowed in the constitution)
That leaves Spies as the 5th choice wing
20 Jul 2011, 07:27 am
Give it a rest, Cardinelli.
20 Jul 2011, 07:49 am
Ha Ha, all I can say about this article is: Thank goodness Cardinelli, won’t ever be a selector! Hopefully not even of a creche rugby 15!!
Schalk Brits was given an opportnity, but he just isn’t the right tyope of player for test rugby.
In SA, the following constanly contributed more:
John Smit, Bismarck du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Righardt Strauss, and Gary Botha!
Next Cardinelli will be telling us that Juan Smith is excess to Bok requirements!!
20 Jul 2011, 08:24 am
Banging this old drum again. What’s next, a Schalk Britz book? An HSM signing maybe?
How about another Mujati article ?
Maybe an article about why Luke is actually the guy to lead us at the WC?
20 Jul 2011, 08:37 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-2:
perhaps its testament to how kuk all the opposition t5′s are in the nh? don’t think he’ll get away with that sshit in test rugby or against the better super teams.
20 Jul 2011, 08:39 am
@Cheetah 4 Eva(Cheetah 4 Eva)-5:
come on now, give the man more credit than that. he might be able to coach a special olympics type team where ‘everybodies a winner’ hehe
20 Jul 2011, 08:46 am
give me Schalk Brits long before the washed up has been gravy trainer plod….any day of the damn week…
20 Jul 2011, 08:52 am
@grant10(grant10)-9: Grant no wonder the stormers with supporters like you will never have a decent tight 5.
20 Jul 2011, 08:57 am
Britz is not suited to the Bok game plan. Period.
20 Jul 2011, 09:11 am
No Jon. He is yet to prove himself in the Southern Hemisphere’s pace of the game.
20 Jul 2011, 09:12 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-6: Hehehehe. Ja nee…..
20 Jul 2011, 09:21 am
i don’t know… but honestly if this team were chosen on “form” … as they say… maybe this guy should be there?…..
20 Jul 2011, 09:22 am
Britz would be a great impact player. The All Blacks most times beat us in the last 10 minutes because of their great bench who open up the game when the opposition is tiring.
20 Jul 2011, 09:39 am
Possibly the most debated topic on social media, in the newspapers and around braais is whether John Smit should be in the Springbok team and, most importantly, act as captain at the same time. Tom Dawson-Squibb, of Head Start Sport, gives his two cents’ worth on the John Smit conundrum.
Some are of the opinion that he should have retired after the B&I Lions tour in 2009 (even Jake White joined this group) and some feel that he should be measured purely on playing ability – with that as the criteria he sits at about third choice in the country. Others feel he should remain Springbok Rugby World Cup captain.
There are people reading this article right now that are firmly in one of these camps and do not intend budging for whatever reason, but here are a few thoughts anyway.
Look back at World Cups past and you may remember names, Kirk, Farr-Jones, Pienaar, Eales, Johnson and Smit – rugby greats in their own rights. All exceptional rugby players but more than that all exceptional people and all World Cup-winning captains. The truth is, each of these victorious sides was led by an experienced captain that commanded massive amounts of respect from his team. In fact, the names of the captains of these sides roll off the tongue far quicker than the men who coached these sides to victory.
So we look at history and it tells us that a team is unlikely to win a World Cup without a world-class leader. And as I write this on the birthday of one of the world’s most famous leaders it brings to mind just how important leadership is in successful teams, companies and organisations.
In conversation with a senior Springbok just last week, he told me that John Smit was one of the most exceptional people he knows and unrivalled as a captain by a long shot and that this view was shared by the team. For whatever failings (some may even be perceived) he has as a player, this man surely needs to be there to lead this side should we have any chance of winning the competition?
Leadership is about many things, it is about motivating but also about caring, it is about setting an example but also about saying the right thing at the right time, it is about bringing a team together but also about knowing how to get the best out of each individual. Leadership is inherently about effecting positive influence on your followers in such a way that enables them to perform. The question one needs to ask, is who else in the current Bok side would be able to do all of this?
The current Bok set-up is an interesting one, there is a remarkably large management staff, there is a head coach who seems to struggle in the communication category but is a brilliant man-manager and there are many different ideas from all the different coaches who have not necessarily all worked together that much.
More than that, it is no secret that provincialism is big in South Africa and that for eight months of the year guys from different provinces go all out to beat each other and then have to play as a team in short competitions such as the Tri-Nations and the Rugby World Cup.
This means the ability of leadership to mould a team, to be able to understand the different characters and to break down any cliques becomes paramount to the team’s success. Bulls, Stormers and Sharks jerseys need to be quickly put in the cupboard, out of sight, and Springbok culture needs to be the only one that exists within the players. I know that the Springbok jersey carries enormous weight in the players’ heads and hearts and therefore bonds them together nicely, but without expert leadership of people, no jersey will be able to mould players together that fast.
So here we sit just two months out from the World Cup and we will continue to debate this issue over and over again. The fact remains, however, that John Smit’s leadership is highly thought of in Bok circles, this symbolised by them sending him on this Tri-Nations away leg, and that it is unlikely to change. This was a good call, as the credibility of the man must remain in tact by playing him as much as possible and backing his as first choice.
Another fact is that there is a solid leadership core in the Bok side, but no one with as much natural leadership ability to hold together what is a difficult ship to steer, as John Smit.
He has been chosen as captain, and rightly so because first of all it is too late to make a change now and, secondly, there is no one else in his class as a leader. Captaining a Springbok side is no easy task however experienced these players may be and for that reason the best leader must be picked first and the rest second as that is what winning sides do.
In conclusion, leave out John Smit at the country’s peril, he must start, he must captain and he must be allowed to do his job with the whole team and management staff’s support.
20 Jul 2011, 09:41 am
Previous post on RUGBY 365.
G10 responded in his usual manner on that too. Quite amusing.
I wish that some people learned from their mistakes.
Mallet admitted he was wrong in dropping his leader for a perceived superior player. At least Div will not make the same error, even though there are those who believe that they know better, and castrate Div & Smit.
CLOWNS
Is only Smit was from WP, this would not be an issue.
20 Jul 2011, 10:09 am
@BULLET(BULLET)-17:
very good article thanks.
only a fool would come away from that disagreeing.
20 Jul 2011, 10:25 am
If Brits and Spies playes in Australia, the Aussies would have tailored their gameplan around them.
In SA, players are asked to fulfil the primary functions of a particular position.
Maybe it is time for a rethink of our approach.
20 Jul 2011, 10:36 am
He didnt show much when he played for the Stormers against Crusaders.
20 Jul 2011, 10:41 am
think this from PDV says it all about this player and can we now stop pushing this agenda: ‘If Schalk had played for us last year, and then played in this country this year, then we would have known. He made the choice of going overseas. He is so unlucky. I believe he can make a difference, but he is playing in a position where we have more than enough depth.’
20 Jul 2011, 10:46 am
haha, what a great read regarding Smitty!
what a legend the man is, he bleeds for the cause unlike grant10 who only sqawks endlessly like an unwanted parrot “rescued” from the garden having been “released” by its previous owners.
20 Jul 2011, 10:50 am
@BULLET(BULLET)-17: i disagree. If you look at all the great captains that have won world cups they have all had the abilty to lead from the front being the best or marginally the 2nd best in their position. Smit may be a great leader but he is not even marginally the best hooker in this country in fact imo ranks around 5th. He no longer has the ability to lead by example. Brits would have been a great bench player offering the plan B option of opening the game up when you need to change tactics. We seem to have this kick and chase game and if it does not work no plan B and everything goes pear shaped after that.
20 Jul 2011, 11:35 am
@grant10(grant10)-9:
Oh please… the champion of Ralepelle… a player who at 25 still hasn’t had a single world-class game at hooker in a score of tests… when a player almost a decade his senior is still pulling off moves like this that he will NEVER be able to…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcqg6GoAnWg
Perhaps you should ask Brits in private why he is in the NH… it will be the same reason the form hooker in the land is playing CC rugby… and I’ll give you a clue… it has nothing to do with Smit and BDP!
20 Jul 2011, 11:38 am
Smit vs Moore… good match in many respects…
Ralepelle vs Faingaa… ouch better hope Smit has 70mins in him…
Strauss vs Faingaa… bring it on!
Get the picture… doubt it!
20 Jul 2011, 12:56 pm
Well. As said above, you can’t get past Smit and Chili, so no point arguing that.
Then it would be a competition between Du Plessis, Strauss, Liebenberg, Botha and Brits IF a third hooker goes. No chance of Brits jumping Du Plessis and Strauss, and he couldn’t even beat Liebenberg as the Stormers 1st choice hooker. Botha has experience and he also played overseas, so even there is a tough competition.
I have to slightly disagree with Venter’s statement. Brits is probably currently the best all-round rugby player in England, but not the best no2 in England.
He’s simply a victim of his own versatility.
20 Jul 2011, 13:36 pm
Brits wouldn’t crack the Bok team because as good as he is in the broken field he is not a test hooker quality in the tight phases.
20 Jul 2011, 14:54 pm
Schalk Brits
Joe van Niekerk
Brian Mujati
Marius Joubert
Brendan Venter
Os du Randt
Any more articles on the above Im going f*cking lose it!!
Next pet articles are going to be on: Frans Louw,Sarel Pretorius,Duanne Vermuelen,Johan Sadie,Andy Turner, Nick koster, Gerhard Mostert etc
How about article on:
Dean Greyling
Werner Kruger
Ashley Johnson
Juan de Jongh
Lwazi Mvovo
etc
And their rise to the big time and how they feel at being Boks??
Oh no wait,they cant as Keo journo’s dont have easy access to Boks as they did before after string on BS articles about Div/Boks that led to tap to be closed….Cant write people into teams anymore neither…
20 Jul 2011, 14:59 pm
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-27: People used to say the same things about Mealamu as well. Just because he’s very good in the loose, people assume he doesn’t do anything in the tight. Wrong. He is brilliant and I can’t think of any other hooker in the world, who could come on as a sub and make a bigger impact.
20 Jul 2011, 15:03 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-25:
Rallapelle is better than Faingaa who could stand to lose a few kilos…Would take both Rallapelle & Strauss above Faingaa and day of the week & twice on a Sunday…Whats next Hanson the back up hooker for Reds in Oz set up??? or Sean Hardman will return??? no….more like “tyrannosaurus rex armed” Adam Freier…..
Talking about kak hookers,try the multiple Wallaby capped & starter “waterpolo champ” Tai McIsaaic
20 Jul 2011, 15:09 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-28: one can’t report on the Boks sitting in Cape Town sbali!
New-look Ashley ready for Oz
2011-07-20
J.J. Harmse
Sydney – Ashley Johnson admitted at his first media conference as a Test Springbok that it’s quite intimidating to prepare yourself for a match in the Cheetahs’ dressing room in Bloemfontein.
“There, next to your number and jersey, are the names of all the players who played in that jersey before you. In my last few games for the Cheetahs I have had to step into the shoes of guys like André Venter, Rassie Erasmus and Juan Smith. You can’t do anything else than lift your game,” says the 25-year-old loose forward as he looks you straight in the eye.
His eyes are clearly visible because scissors have been applied to his mop of hair.
“I just decided that it’s time for a haircut. It had nothing to do with being picked for the Boks. It was just time,” says Johnson.
He will be making his Test debut on Saturday after defeats in tour matches against the Leicester Tigers and Saracens on the 2009 end-of-season tour.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers never lost faith in the skilful player.
“Ashley is a classic No 8 for me. He can get over the advantage line with his driving play and take you forward, and then he forms the ideal link between forwards and backs,” De Villiers explained the selection.
However, there have been a number of dark clouds since those bright moments at Welford Road (Leicester) and Wembley Stadium (London).
“I had to ask questions of myself because Coach Naka (Drotské) was completely right in his assessment that I was too inconsistent to start every Super Rugby match for the Cheetahs,” said Johnson.
“I had to go and work harder and that is why it’s a good feeling to be here now. Saturday will be a special day and it will require a special effort.
“Danie (Rossouw) and Deon (Stegmann) know Test rugby and I just have to fall in if we want to make the combination work. I have played some good rugby of late for the Cheetahs, but you really feel good upon returning to the change room and realising that it’s the standard when you see those names.”
Meanwhile, two members of the Springbok touring team of 1981, Flip van der Merwe and Gysie Pienaar, have sons in Saturday’s Test, with Flip (jr.) and Ruan playing lock and scrumhalf respectively.
Johnson, however, has every right to be equally proud of his father, Archie.
Archie Johnson was a top-notch tighthead prop for the SA Federation team (SA Proteas) and may have been a Springbok in a different era.
Johnson (Sr.) played for the Federation team from 1984 until 1990. He played against England in 1984 and against the South Sea Barbarians in 1988.
20 Jul 2011, 15:13 pm
Brits will not go to the RWC, no matter what, full stop.
Adrian Strauss is the best No2 in SA IMO, he also will not go to the RWC
And so what?
End of the day Brits makes 5 times more than Chilibooi in hard currency terms, Strauss’ cousin Richardt makes probably 3 time more than Adrian,
Money talks, it’s that simple
20 Jul 2011, 15:14 pm
plod
quota gravy train deluxe con job of note.
and he knows it
20 Jul 2011, 15:17 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-31:
Kudala babehamba babalandele ngoba babe ne-access kalula.
20 Jul 2011, 15:20 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-34: ngiyakuzwa, well umbhede bazenzele, abalale kuwo phela.
20 Jul 2011, 15:21 pm
@Bouts(Bouts)-26:
Interesting statement about Brits’ versatility
Wtached him against Leicester and Northhampton 3 months ago against England rated hookers, he did very well in his primary duties, more than that actually
Coming on for a losing cause 20 minutes from the end against the Saders is not a yardstick, he still generated two breaks that with half decent backs should end in tries.
20 Jul 2011, 15:21 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-31:
Thanks for the article Transie
Nice touch at end with the father bit…
Johnson is indeed then rugby royalty…..
20 Jul 2011, 15:23 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-37: pedigree
20 Jul 2011, 15:29 pm
If Ashleys not careful with that hugh jass of his, he might have to do a Beast and convert from loosie to front row at some stage.
20 Jul 2011, 15:32 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-39: \
Naka already tried to ruin his career that way by converting him to a hooker a few years back…
When he put him back in loosies, have a look at how Johnson has played in last 2 years….
Leave Johnson at looseforward.
20 Jul 2011, 15:37 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-40:
Really? Interesting.
Comment was made with tongue firmly in cheek. He has been possibly the most improved rugga player in SA, cant think of anyone who has improved as much this season. Needs to watch his error rate and his conditioning though.
20 Jul 2011, 15:50 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-41:
Johnson played hooker from 2007-2009.Only went back to flank in CC 09′
He even was relegated to playing for the Griffons at some point in time.Only went back to looseforward because the was a huge injury crisis at Cheetahs at flank and lock that year.so Frans Uys was put at lock and Johnson got his chance in loosies and never looked back.
I agree about error and conditioning.That can be corrected in time, I remember for years Bog Joe had problems with his conditioning especially upper body wise-he eventually fixed it somewhat.
Johnson has all the other gifts, he is a natural.Rest he can work on with diet & conditioning along with more games/experience.
21 Jul 2011, 04:50 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-42:
If you search the archives a few months back to the start of the year(or ask Transie
) , he came out and said he realised he has not worked hard enough in the off season and it took him a long time to get ready when the season proper started. He said at the time with a looming WC he decided to change for the better which included cutting his Christmas holiday short and saying no to a second helping of his Mum’s Xmas pudding. Instead he went back to Bloem and worked on his fitness.
Funny enough there is a similar article about Coenie, both players shined during the Super 15 in a much improved Cheetahs team.
21 Jul 2011, 05:15 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-30:
Usually you are quite an informed chappie… have you forgotten Australia’s first choice hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau…
‘Could lose some pounds’… are you for real… I was fortunate to meet most of the Reds after the Rebels match as a guest of my mate Julian Huxley… the guy is BUILT… not an ounce of fat all muscle… much like his brother only taller and bigger!
As for Ralepelle… the guy tries his best, gives it his all… but is nothing more than a tackling prop (and in many cases just as slow), he jogs along from ruck to maul, never tackles an opponent back (has the highest stats for assisted tackles), has average handling and rarely breaks the advantage line with ball-in hand due to his lack of speed.
Unfortunately for him… none of the above can be improved… ironically IMO Hanyani Shimange was a better hooker.
He simply offers zero impact off the bench Strauss does!
But of course you’re entitled to your opinion, as you are entitle to mine.
21 Jul 2011, 05:36 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-44: Both Rallepelle and Faienga are absolute rubbish and potential weak links for their teams if they get on. The problem for SA as opposed to Aus is that Faienga will be behind Moore and Polota Nau in the pecking list. South Africa will have John Smit and Ralepelle who are both completely off the pace, the whole squad play for provinces who have better hookers then these 2 guys!!!! Players know its a farce and it has to have an effect on the team.
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