Schalk Brits was reclining in Ibiza when the text message came through. He had a cocktail in hand as the sun began to set on the Spanish island.
That’s the reputation Brits had earned in his career. He’s known as the nice guy of rugby; an affable character who has a natural allure about him. Brits would begin his rubgy career as a journeyman in the South African scene. After a start at Western Province he would soon find himself in Gauteng wearing Golden Lions and Cats shirts. From there it was back down south to the Stormers where he would plant roots for the first time, making 51 appearances over four seasons.
With that in mind it’s easy to sympathise with Brits’s disbelief when the new man in charge went out of his way to personally request that he hold off on retirement. Much of the rugby-watching public certainly didn’t get it: What could a bit-part veteran who would be 38 by the time of the World Cup offer to the team?
Perhaps the most important function of the second string, however, was to prep the match-day unit for the opposition that lay in wait. Led by Brits and Elton Jantjies, the players would scout ahead of the next game and mimic the rival team in training. These exercises allowed the coaching staff to identify weaknesses the Bok game plan could exploit. The following performances brought results, if not universal plaudits back home.
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