In one of those strange sporting ironies that come around once in a while, Schalk Burger and Luke Watson will next week get to share the landmark achievement of their 50th Stormers match.
Burger started his Stormers career in 2004 and Watson moved down from the Sharks in 2005, but the injury that ruled Burger out of the last portion of last year’s Super 14 ensured that the pair will both end up celebrating their 50th game when the Stormers face the Sharks in the competition opener. Although Watson and Burger are team-mates, there is a rivalry between the pair as until last year they were competing for the same position in the Springbok team.
Gavin Rich writes for SuperRugby that officially Burger is still on the doubtful list for the Sharks game due to an ankle tendon injury, but he has been back on the training field this week, and he considers himself a certainty to be available for the match.
“It feels fine now, the injury has been sorted out, and I will be ready to play against the Sharks,” said Burger.
The star Springbok can be considered a certainty for the game even if he is half fit, but the big question revolves around whether Watson will join him in notching his 50th cap as a member of the starting team, or whether he will achieve the landmark by coming on as a replacement later in the game.
The loose-forward configuration is one of coach Rassie Erasmus’s biggest decisions ahead of the Sharks game. Although Watson played both warm-up games against Saracens and Boland as the starting No 8, Erasmus has a high regard for Duane Vermeulen. The Cheetahs recruit was played at No 7 flank against Saracens, but then it needs to be remembered that Burger wasn’t available.
If Francois Louw is fit, as he is expected to be, it could leave Vermeulen, considered one of the hottest young loose forward talents in the country during last year’s Super 14, where he was frequently brilliant in an almost lone-ranger role for the Cheetahs, to fight it out with Watson for the No 8 jersey.
Burger was to have made his 50th appearance against the Brumbies last year. The Stormers marketing people had already commissioned an article on Burger for the match programme to commemorate the achievement, but the Springbok injured a medial ligament against the Highlanders the week before the Brumbies game. He was ruled out of the rest of the Super 14 season.
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Congrats Schalk Burger, way to go. 😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) : 😈
Could be interesting to see the reaction when they take the field. I suggest they lead the team onto the field holding hands. The Stormers faithful wouldnt dare Boo Luke then.
@Salmonoid (Comment 3) : If rumours are to be believed then there is a lot of hand holding, leg waxing and sun tan lotion applying that happens at the Stormers.
@Loosehead (Comment 4) : And their over-sensitive supporters 😉
50 games. Well done.
I hope they both score a try.
Congrats L 😯 😯 K ❗
@Loosehead (Comment 4) :
Those aren’t just rumours. 😛
11 Days!!!!!!!!
I hope Luke scores the winning try against these arrogant Sharks!!! 👿
@humble wpw (Comment 10) :
With broken ribs and all. 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 11) :
Your team is full of pansies. Who is gonna dare mess with Lukas X???
Frans Steyn uses ‘Head and Shoulders’
Smit went to Pretoria Boys High (moffie school)
Adi Jacobs is from the ‘bang gat’ side of Kraaifontein
Ruan Pienaar is scared of tackling
Should I continue??? 😈
@humble wpw (Comment 12) :
You may continue if you like, but I found, early on in life already that, that people find it much harder to knock your teeth out if your mouth is closed. 😛
Besides pookie Watson will break his ribs as he gets folded in half trying to stop Jean “Diesel Engine” Deysel
Fight! Fight! Fight! 😛
@humble wpw (Comment 12) : Same pansie team won the Currie Cup. WP finished, um, NOWHERE!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 14) : Ooooh its gonna suck so bad when Jean Diesel Engine Deysel goes off injured(PJLD in no way wishes injuries on pro sportsman) after tryiong to run over Loehkmaan.
I am glad the Cape folk are starting to warm to Lukas – its about time.
Congratulations to Schalk and Luke…and we apologise in advance for spoiling your party! 😎
@Salmonoid (Comment 18) :
they have no choice… 😈 Thank goodness we have.. 😉
@Baldrick (Comment 16) :
Trust a Shark supporter to spoil our fun with the ‘facts’ 😕 😥
@PJLD (Comment 17) :
The only thing you got right there is the “maan” bit.
Daai ou is met die maan gepla. 😳
@humble wpw (Comment 21) :
@Salmonoid (Comment 18) : I dislike Luke because he is a doos, but he is a Stormer so by default I support him.I also like the way he ran over Wikus van Heerden the other day.
@PJLD (Comment 24) :
Agree. I wonder if PDV will select him for the Boks this year. 😈
@wpw is feeling ‘myopic’ today (Comment 25) :
wpw is feeling ‘myopic’ today
😆 😆 😆
Some taanie at work made me sushi!!!
Will we be able to see the other people’s picks once we’ve made our own in last man standing as with superbru?
@McLovin (Comment 28) :
not sure on that, will have to check with Rob.
@McLovin (Comment 28) : Don’t worry about other people’s picks…
@humble wpw (Comment 12) : Wat praat jy, in Scottsville sal jy nooit jou luck ko try nie 😈
@Charlie (Comment 31) : hehehe
I was looking forward to reading your response.
@Charlie (Comment 31) :
My broe, ek is vannie Belhaaaar!!! 😯
(and the ‘capies’ have just taken over the site)
@wpw is feeling ‘myopic’ today (Comment 33) : Ho$ is nog Diep River diekante!Gwala!
OKay chose my FL team and last man standing thing on justrugby, justintime
How does it work again?
You can only pick one team once throughout the comp?
@PJLD (Comment 34) : bwahahahahaa
And yet you attended ‘Plumstead High’
cough! moffie school…cough! cough!
😈
Paul Adams went to Plumstead…
@PJLD (Comment 34) : @wpw is feeling ‘myopic’ today (Comment 37) :
Typical WP supporters, you start off by teaming up and fighting the Sharkies, and end up fighting one another.
@MorneN (Comment 38) : As did Mike Bernado and JP Duminy .Wes, you call Mike a moffie then tell me how that goes.
@MorneN (Comment 36) : correct 🙂
@MorneN (Comment 39) : 😳
@robdylan (Comment 41) :
Oh thats okay then, I don’t expect the Bulls to win again so they have fulfilled their purpose to me.
@MorneN (Comment 36) :
that’s right.
Once you have chosen them they will automatically be removed from your available options to chose. (for the guys like me with short memories)
@MorneN (Comment 39) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 14) :
Only Jean makes a break on the wing… then Brits, Bekker and Watson will have to stop him…
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 46) :
Only ‘if’
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 47) :
Oh okay NOW it makes sense. 😆
@wpw is feeling ‘myopic’ today (Comment 33) : Ou Belhar of Delft se kant ❓
@PJLD (Comment 34) : Swem jannie swem 😆
@Charlie (Comment 49) :
Ou Belhar. Naby die Booysens.
Ken jy die Belhar???
@wpw is feeling ‘myopic’ today (Comment 51) : Oe jinne, tussen die high society ek sê, ken nie ma van hulle gehoor, ma ken vir Sas Bailey wat vir die IRB werk 😉