30 September 2019, by: Quintin Van Jaarsveld

BEST BOKS: Brits added to his endearing legacy

Stand-in Springbok captain Schalk Brits added a Rugby World Cup highlight to his decorated career with a sensational showing in the No.8 jersey in the 57-3 demolition of Namibia in Toyota City on Saturday, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

Brits is the last of a ‘dying’ breed not just in the South African set-up but in world rugby. In the modern era, players are generally mirror images of one another in terms of size and conditioning, machine-like specimens developed in iron labs known as gyms and groomed into skilful ball-players in high-performance systems. Similarly, when it comes to media obligations, the majority generally provide bland and clichéd stock answers.

Brits is cut from a different cloth. The 38-year-old is a character in a game full of clones. It’s not his red scrum cap but rather his enigmatic nature and unique skillset – a product of his refusal to conform and be put in a particular box – that make the Springboks’ eldest statesman stand out.

All those old school qualities were on display in the Springboks’ second Pool B encounter against African neighbours Namibia. Unlucky not to be rewarded with the official Man of the Match award, Brits was brilliant at No.8 – where the regular hooker hadn’t played since making the odd appearance there during his time at the Stormers from 2006 to 2009, prior to his highly successful near decade-long career at Saracens, where he became a legend of the club with more than 200 caps.

When it comes to an eighthman being a link between forwards and backs, Brits was sublime. He was at the heart of the Springboks’ momentum-building creativity with his slick back-like hands and playmaking prowess.

His two try assists – first sucking in the defender and offloading to a freed-up Lukhanyo Am just before the break followed by his break from the lineout and inside ball to release Makazole Mapimpi in the 53rd minute – were a joy to watch. The wily veteran also had an important hand in regular skipper Siya Kolisi’s try five minutes later.

His unpredictable nature and impressive ball skills make him a dangerous ball carrier despite the fact that he gives up size and saw him beat three defenders and make two clean breaks en route to making 40 metres.

His hunger, despite facing weaker opposition and the game well and truly being in the bag, was highlighted when he shook off a nasty shoulder charge and powered his way over for a deserved try in the 64th minute.

Defensively and as captain, the greying, smiling Brits was good as well. He made a joint team-high eight tackles along with hooker Bongi Mbonambi, another one of the standout Springboks on the day, and won two turnovers. Leading not only by example, he was in constant communication with the referee – a mark of an on-the-ball captain.

Elsewhere in the pack, Mbonambi (as mentioned), RG Snyman (with his excellent offloads) and Francois Louw (with his breakdown abilities and try) all had good outings, but it was Vincent Koch and Lood de Jager who made the biggest statements in terms of challenging for places in the starting line-up for this Friday’s key clash against Italy and the upcoming playoffs.

With Trevor Nyakane’s unfortunate tournament-ending injury and Frans Malherbe’s unconvincing current form, Koch seized the opportunity to make an impression with his borderline dangerous destruction of loosehead Desiderius Sethie. The Namibian scrum back-pedalled at the rate of knots and it was clear that they received a reprieve when Koch clocked out in the 45th minute.

De Jager was all over the park and received the Man of the Match award for his energetic effort. The second-row savage made an unrivalled 15 carries, 42 metres (the most by a forward), beat five defenders, made seven tackles and bossed the lineouts with a whopping 10 takes.

In the backline, Herschel Jantjies and the hard-working back three can be more than pleased with their performances. The exciting scrumhalf had some good touches and his box kicking was on point, Mapimpi bagged a brace and racked up an unrivalled 128 metres, beating five defenders and making four clean breaks in the process, while Warrick Gelant started and finished a slick sweeping attack in what was a good attacking showing (81m, five clean breaks and five defenders beaten), although the fullback made a few mistakes.

The best of the Springbok backs, however, was Brits’ fellow veteran, Frans Steyn, who was monstrous in midfield. The 2007 World Cup winner crashed over the gainline every time he hit up the ball in the No.12 channel. He was more than just a battering ram, though, and it was his break that led to a panicking Namibian defence conceding a yellow card.

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