Schalk Brits exclusive: Springbok ‘superpowers’ key to France quarter-final

James While

Handre Pollard of South Africa, former Springbok Schalk Brits and France star Antoine Dupont.

With South Africa gearing up for their biggest Test in four years, Planet Rugby’s James While is joined by world champion Springbok and Saracens favourite Schalk Brits to preview the match against France on Sunday evening.

Back to basics

“I have rarely looked forward to a game as much as this,” revealed Brits.

“It’s an absolute clash of titans, two of the very best sides in the world over the last four years, and it’s only a shame it’s happening in the quarter-finals rather than later on in the competition.

“The simple fact is that on Sunday evening, a couple of the top four ranked teams leave the tournament, and that shows the stupidity of the decision to draw the pools three years out from the actual competition. The final stages will be lesser for losing these sides.

“With the Springbok team announcement being put back to Friday, it’s very clear to me that Rassie Erasmus is playing his cards very close to his chest in terms of selection and tactics. South Africa have developed their game in the last year or so with a lot more ball movement at the heart of that, but my intuition is that he’ll be looking for a back-to-basics approach in his selection, going to the comfort of the traditional Springbok qualities of power, set-piece and great kicking.

“With a number of injury clouds over players, that means selection is incredibly finely balanced. I believe Handre Pollard will start, which suggests you need cover for him in case he doesn’t make it through – could it be Damian Willemse at 15 with Willie le Roux off the bench? That’s a hard one because Willie creates so much for others; it’s so hard to leave him out, but we need to get the right balance.

“There’s been talk of Lukhanyo Am starting but, although he is a world-class player, he hasn’t really picked a ball up in anger for three months, so I cannot see ‘Luke’ starting, especially considering just how brilliantly Jesse Kriel has been defending. But given the closeness of this match, I could see Rassie and Jacques Nienaber dispensing with a big bomb squad and going 6-2 or even a traditional 5-3 with Am as a bench option and Grant Williams or Cobus Reinach covering nine and wing, and Manie Libbok to add tempo.

“Against France, wing defence, especially in the aerial battle, is absolutely key, and Kurt-Lee Arendse is the best solution with Kolbe on the other wing.”

French challenge

“The French pack is the biggest challenge we face. They have a quite remarkable back-row with a pick between four world-class players in Charles Ollivon, Francois Cros, Gregory Alldritt and Anthony Jelonch, to choose their starting trio from. Duane Vermeulen is coming back to his very best, and he offers huge stability, incredible maul defence and great leadership. My gut feel is he should start, especially against the quality of that brilliant French loose combination, with Jasper Wiese and Kwagga Smith to change up,” Brits said.

“However, is there an advantage to be gained in the front five? I think there may be. We have some incredible locks, and starting Franco Mostert with the ability to bring RG Snyman on is a key point of difference for us.

“Strategy is key. This is about our pack bossing as a collective. Against Ireland, we struggled against the way they protected the ball into contact and that allowed them space to use their pace and guile. France get huge front foot momentum from their ruck speed, so slowing and disrupting that before their wide men get ball in hand is the key to winning the match; that means fast contesting of every single ruck, whether that be pure disruption of the quality of ball or getting in over early to steal.

“The balance of the 9/10 partnerships is also key, and that includes the replacements. It’s about getting the best 80 minutes out of both shirts over individualism, and whilst France might have an advantage in player quality, I feel we can change that equation by pure teamwork and a very precise kicking game from our halves.”

Dupont target

“For sure, Antoine Dupont is going to be targeted by waves of big forwards trying to get into him. However good he is, and he’s the best, he will be nervous of going into the match with his injury, and the Boks need to use that to their advantage,” he added.

“France are at their best when they start hot as they did against both Italy and New Zealand. They want to get pace onto the ball, get their massive carriers like Jonathan Danty, Alldritt and Ollivon involved by putting the Bok defence on the back foot and into scramble, before their broken field runners work their magic outside.

“Staying with them in that first half, or even first quarter, is the biggest challenge. If either side get into two-score margin situations, turning the match around from there will be almost impossible. It’s about working to the three Bok superpowers – scrum, steal and smash – with a big kicking game controlling the territory.

“I have loved watching both of these teams in the tournament, and it will be the closest of games. Both have incredible environments to work within – close, passionate and professional – and it is such a shame one has to lose on Sunday.

“No player could sum up the Bok spirit more than Deon Fourie and his amazing, selfless approach to his role. I reckon he’d do a shift at tighthead if you asked him; that’s how much the shirt means to him. He puts his body on the line, and at his age (37), moving back from flank to hooker at Test level is simply remarkable. I spent my later Bok career trying to move from hooker to back row, so I can’t quite fathom why he’d want to make the journey the other way around!

“In the final analysis, we all know this will be a tight game with only a score separating them. But if the Boks can win those collisions and disrupt the French ball speed, I do believe we’ve the opportunistic players to grab enough points to get over the line, by three points or so in a titanic match that I hope isn’t influenced by cards.”

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