'Eddie is brutal': Schalk sends Aussie warning to Boks
SPOTLIGHT: Former Springbok hooker Schalk Brits says the Wallabies will be a “different kettle of fish” this year under Eddie Jones and that makes them dangerous foes heading into the World Cup.
Brits shared his views on the RugbyPass Offload podcast ahead of this year’s Rugby Championship which begins on July 8.
The Boks open the campaign against the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld, which will be Jones’ first game in charge since he took over from Dave Rennie in January.
Jones said that match will be “pivotal” in his team’s build-up to the World Cup and Brits was asked for his opinion on how the Boks are shaping up for the clash.
“Rassie’s [Erasmus] viewpoint is that people do not remember what happens in between World Cups,” Brits said on the podcast.
“Yes, it is important to win games and build momentum.
“His focus will just be to make sure that we get depth into the squad. You will see some funny selections going into the World Cup.
“For me, it’s about teams like New Zealand and Australia that we haven’t spoken about in the last six or eight months and it is scary, especially with Eddie [there].
“He knows how to work with those Australian players and he knows how to get the best out of them, so I am quite wary of the Australian team going into this World Cup.”
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”He is brutal’
On Jones’ coaching style, Brits added: “They [Wallabies] are going to be a totally different kettle of fish.
“The way he manages the team is unbelievable. He takes the pressure off the players and puts the pressure on himself. That is a great way of managing pressure as a manager of a team.
“I have worked with Eddie a little bit and he will get the best out of a team.
“He is suited for international rugby, not as a club coach.
“He drives stats incredibly high and some players and some management can’t keep up with that.
“I think he is brutal, but that is his management style.
“It’s old school in an only-the-strongest-survive kind of way.”
