Brits v George battle will be ‘master against apprentice with edge’

John Smit, South Africa’s 2007 World Cup-winning captain, believes that his former Saracens team-mates and fellow hookers, Schalk Brits and Jamie George, will have a “master and apprentice battle with edge” as they look to come out on top for the Springboks and England respectively.

Brits’s shock call-up on Monday has led to the “unique” situation, as Smit sees it, of two players who are “more like family than team-mates” possibly going head-to-head.

“It will be like two brother scrapping in the backyard for the bragging rights,” Smit told The Daily Telegraph. “There will be no needle between then because they are two of the loveliest and happiest guys you could ever come across but there will certainly be an edge.

“Jamie will want to show Schalk the respect of being well tutored by him, the apprentice who wants to prove that he has learned his trade well from the master. There will be a lot of gratitude and respect involved but the one thing you also know is that there will be a hell of a lot of competitiveness, too.

“Schalk has this smiley persona yet whether it’s golf or ping-pong or rugby, there is only one thing that he is interested in and that is winning.”

Smit spent two years – 2011-13 – at Saracens, a couple of seasons after the now 37-year-old Brits had arrived there. George, 27, came through the Saracens academy and was mentored by the older men.

“Jamie must have been frustrated not to get first-team opportunities sooner but he never once showed exasperation, so receptive was he to get as much information and knowledge from us,” said Smit.

“They will go at it hammer and tongs, but they will also be wishing inside somewhere that the other does well, too. Jamie will pay Schalk the respect of playing as well as he is able to, while Schalk will want to show that there is life in him yet. No one would have thought that this would come to pass. It’s a unique situation and a great story.”