The Springboks will take on England in the second semi-final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Photo: World Rugby.
Schalk Brits: ‘England will kick in behind South Africa’
Schalk Brits expects England to kick in behind South Africa, like France did, in their Rugby World Cup semi-final clash in Paris.
The Springboks will take on England in the second semi-final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Photo: World Rugby.
Brits, the former Springboks hooker and 2019 Rugby World Cup winner, answered questions posed by The South African at a LuckyBlock.com event about the Springboks upcoming Rugby World Cup semi-final clash against England on Saturday evening at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris.
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Brits became the oldest player (38 years, 170 days) to win the Rugby World Cup when South Africa thrashed England 32-12 in the 2019 final in Yokohama, Japan. Brits played hooker for most of his career, but the Saracens legend was renowned for his versatility and speed and sometimes played in the back row.
Brits: ‘England will try to kick in behind South Africa’ like France did
He told The South African: “Strategically, I think England will do the same [as France] and try to kick behind us and negate our rush defence.
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“It is all about what kind of energy you get from it [playing in behind the opposition]. If you have an aggressive structure, like we had at Saracens, things that kill you are blindside attacks and chip kicks in behind your defensive line.”
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Brits spent a decade in England; the former Springboks hooker knows English tactics
Brits debuted for the Springboks against Italy in 2008 and won 15 caps for South Africa, including captaining the Boks – playing No 8 – against Namibia in the 2019 World Cup-winning campaign.
The 42-year-old spent a decade playing in England for Saracens. He won the Premiership title four times and the Heineken Champions Cup twice, making 216 appearances before returning to play for the Bulls in 2019.
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He added: “I think what the French did – in the beginning – was changing their attack quickly, playing down the blindside a lot.
“The one thing I do know, is that Steve Borthwick and Richard Wigglesworth are very good at analysing games to death.
“They will then try to attack those weaknesses in the defensive structure,” said Brits.
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“The way England plays is right up our alley; they attack hard in the middle.
“They use [Manu] Tuilagi a lot, and the guys coming round the corner are coming from deeper. Our [Springboks] defence will have to break that down.”
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