Schalk Brits: Last played for SA in 2008
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Saracens hooker Schalk Brits is relishing the prospect of facing some of his club-mates when South Africa meet England at Twickenham on November 24.
Brits was named in Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer's 31-man squad for their upcoming tour to Europe which kicks-off against Ireland on November 10 and then takes on Scotland the following week before the Test against England.
And Brits, who last played for the Springboks in 2008, admits it will be a surreal feeling to line up against some of the players who he plays with on a weekly basis.
"It will be so weird to get this chance to play against some of my Sarries team-mates who are in the England squad," he told the London Evening Standard.
"If I do make the team I will have to spend the match with England making sure Mouritz (Botha), Brad (Barritt), Owen (Farrell), Chris (Ashton), Mako (Vunipola) and Alex (Goode) stay out of reach and don't get the chance to put in a big tackle on me.
"It has been a long time since I was fortunate to play for the Springboks and during that period I have realised you cannot take these kind of opportunities for granted.
"I am going to make sure I savour every single moment with the squad and I am going to meet up with the guys in Dublin on Sunday after playing for Sarries against London Wasps."
Brits admits that he has often wondered if he would get to play for the Springboks again and is a great admirer of 21-year-old loosehead prop Vunipola who is the latest Saracens player to earn an England call-up.
"Mako is an incredible talent and together with Rhys Gill, our Welsh loosehead prop, these guys make me look good," he said.
"Sarries is a great place to be and I am very happy at the club.
"Of course, I have talked about not playing for the Springboks with my wife and I always hoped I would get another chance, having played in three Tests in my career.
"It has been a dream to get this opportunity again and I am very excited.
"I knew Heyneke Meyer had spoken to the club but my selection didn't become a certainty until Sunday.
"Heyneke spoke to me and was very honest about the reasons I've been called into the squad and it was a very good conversation."
Comments
sukkadoits says...
Schalk Brits would be a magic Rugby League player
Posted 23:58 30th October 2012
5Lock4ward says...
Van Niekerk's name should've been in this conversation as well. Good for the Boks though for finally calling on Brits again.
Posted 15:11 30th October 2012