Game of numbers for Brits
EDDIE JONES expects Owen Farrell to unite his England team on next month’s three-Test tour to South Africa by ruling with fear – just like one of the head coach’s old skippers.
Farrell has been handed the captaincy of a side that floundered in the Six Nations because of Dylan Hartley’s concussion problems, with Jones admitting last week they had fragmented during the tournament.
The much-travelled coach compared Farrell’s leadership style to that of George Gregan, who was Jones’s on-field right-hand man when he was in charge of Australia and took them to the 2003 World Cup final.
Jones claims that of all the captains he has worked with in two decades of coaching, Farrell is most like Gregan because he scares his teams into action on the pitch.
“That is probably close to the mark,” said Jones. “George Gregan was fantastic. I have never seen a stronger winner than him. He demanded stuff from the team and they were frightened not to give it to him.
“John Smit with South Africa was more consultative.
“He was able to bring three or four disparate groups together for a common purpose. He was brilliant at that, he challenged the coaches so he was very good on the field and very good off the field. Gregan was super on the field but not as good off it.
“Then Michael Leitch with Japan. Brilliant captain. I have never seen a bloke with more courage than him. Within the Japanese there are four or five different groups – Kiwis, Tongans – and he was able to bring them all together for a common purpose.
“None of them started out as great captains, they all started out relatively poor captains. Having strong leadership definitely helps – having a leader who can unite groups. Because within our team SCHALK BRITS is heading for a career in accountancy but is determined to show age is just a number as he calls time on rugby.
The Saracens hooker turned 37 this week but plays with the smile and energy of a man half his age. Yet he admits it is the right call to retire and head back home to South Africa before he outstays his welcome.
The 10-times capped Springbok has been one of the English league’s most popular and influential imports, winning three Premiership titles and two Champions Cups since arriving in 2009.
But with a financial qualification already under his belt from Stellenbosch University, Brits is keen to get involved in numbercrunching instead of bone-crunching before it is too late.
“I love this game. I love the people involved, the supporters and everyone,” he said. “I don’t want to be asked to leave and it is the right decision to go out.
“I won’t lie. Many times I have laid in bed and thought, ‘One more year’.
“A lot of my friends ask me why I am retiring but the problem is my next career. I have been told there is a life after rugby.
“To keep postponing that just makes it more difficult to be successful in my second career.”
Brits is due to play his last game at Allianz Park tomorrow when Saracens take on Wasps in the day’s first Premiership semi-final.
In the past two years Sarries have been chasing trophies on domestic and European fronts but after Champions Cup eviction by Leinster in the quarterfinals they have had two rare weekends off.
On the first free week they headed off on one of the club’s famous bonding sessions, this time in Valencia, and Brits claims the downtime has rejuvenated them as they attempt to regain the title from Exeter.
“It is very difficult competing on both fronts,” he said. “It is keeping the players fresh, it is hard work playing semi-finals and finals between.
“It is quite nice that all of our energy and our focus is on one competition. We are hungry, we want to win the Premiership again.”