Iconic Springbok Schalk Burger is almost certainly out of next week’s first Test against the British and Irish Lions because of a serious on-going calf injury.
Mike Greenaway writes for The Pretoria News:
In another twist to the starting line-up there appears to have been a change of heart at fullback, where Francois Steyn ran at Thursday’s practice when it had been suggested by the management some time ago that wing JP Pietersen would be reinvented as a fullback, which would in turn have allowed for the selection of Free State flyer Jongi Nokwe.
But at the session it was Pietersen in his customary position, Bryan Habana on the other wing, Jacobs at centre with Jean de Villiers and Ruan Pienaar at 10.
Burger has not played since injuring his calf three weeks before the end of the Stormers’ Super 14 campaign and more than a month later he is still not able to participate in training.
On Thursday night the Springbok management chose to decline comment on the state of Burger’s health, nor would they inform the media (and thus the public) on the possibility of a replacement.
Bulls hard man Danie Rossouw has been running in the place of the 2005 IRB Player of the Year, and is the likely replacement, despite the proven claims of Heinrich Brussouw, the Free State fetcher who was dropped after the friendly against Namibia only to single-handedly play the Cheetahs into the game against the Lions with his pilfering of ball at the breakdowns.
The Lions conceded 19 turnovers in that game, many of them at the breakdown. John Smit was asked about Brussouw’s ability to steal ball.
He said: “As a Shark, I know all about what he can do. We have been reduced to tears many times on a Sunday after visits to Bloemfontein.
“He is only four and a half foot tall and born to steal ball a few inches from the grass!” Smit joked.
Smit’s good friend at the Sharks, Johann Muller, was not smiling on Wednesday night after his team’s systematic drubbing at the hands of the Lions.
“They are a really good side. I must be honest, I was taken aback at how ruthlessly efficient they are,” Muller said. “You can tell they are very well coached, very well drilled.
“They do the basics extremely well – at scrums, line-outs and rucks they were much better than they were against the Cheetahs.”
Muller said that there were two things above all else that impressed him about the play of the Lions.
“Their defence is outstanding. They really are very good. We trained all week to break their rush defence, but in the match it was too much for us. We couldn’t make even one line break,” Muller said.
“The other thing is their physicality at the breakdowns. If you leave any daylight between ball carrier and cleaner, they will steal it.
‘This is a very good Lions team. The reassuring thing is that the Springboks know it. I have had a chat to John Smit and they are under no illusions about how organised and committed these guys are.”
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So Schalk is definitely out of the first test. 🙄
In another twist to the starting line-up there appears to have been a change of heart at fullback, where Francois Steyn ran at Thursday’s practice when it had been suggested by the management some time ago that wing JP Pietersen would be reinvented as a fullback, which would in turn have allowed for the selection of Free State flyer Jongi Nokwe.
😯
So Frans it is then!!!
This would be the ideal opportunity for Brussouw to play
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 3) : agree. We are going to get murdered with Pakslae at 6
this is the best news ever. it explains the rumours that danie roussouw will start. although i would prefer brussow danie is my second fave.
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 5) : TT you also have now just confirmed you are cuckoo 😆
Roussouw is a good hard player but he is no 6 flank and way to slow
all he will add is bulk
now was the best time ever to bring brussouw into the lineup
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 5) : Surely not as a fetcher.
“We trained all week to break their rush defence, but in the match it was too much for us. We couldn’t make even one line break,” Muller said.”……Newsflash Johan….the Sharks hardly made any linebreaks this whole season
@Pokkel (Comment 7) :
This is PdV’s chance to play Brussow…Playing Pakslae, Juan and Spies as loose forward combo will be a disaster……I’ve never been a pakslae fan , but he’s a damn good rugby player and a good impact player , but never a opensider
@Pokkel (Comment 9) : couldn’t agree more. That combo will be a disaster.
LUKE WATSON!!! 👿
@wpw (Comment 11) :
Like I said on the ” Boks put to work thread ”
6 Luke
7 Juan
8 Cyborg
But that makes too much sense…so let’s stick to Bruiser and Brussow… 🙄
@blackshark (Comment 12) :
We are not interested in sense!
@blackshark (Comment 12) : lol hiyas BS , uhm yes brussouw does make sense , he is the best 6 in the country afterall 😉 😆
Personally I would like Deysel there in place of Schalk.
@Morné (Comment 15) : atually pissant and myself said the same thing early this am on keo
If you look at deysels play he actuall does most of the fetching for the sharks , he is one that might just be good for a conversion
@sharks_lover (Comment 16) :
That Pissant is a clever fellow! 🙂
Point is their game is very similar, strengths very similar and their built similar which should take nothing away from the role Schalk plays in contact and winning contact situations, thus taking nothing away from how the Boks play their game and execute their game plan.
It would be the least disruption to the team in the sense of dynamics, and team dynamics is always first prize to me.
@Morné (Comment 17) :
Stop copying Pissant’s ideas… 😆
But that’s not a bad idea at all… I’m sure Rob will agree …
@Morné (Comment 17) :
and me 😆
On a serious note i agree
I was not one for wanting burger dropped, i just wanted brussouw atleast on the bench and in the squad
Deysel is actually training with the bok squad this week, well so is all the EB’s and i wonder if deysel will be tried at 6?
@blackshark (Comment 18) :
It is hard not to copy such classy ideas! 😆
@sharks_lover (Comment 19) :
Dont think it will happen.
morne if you wanna make robs day ???
make F steyn the 6 flank 😆 😆
@Morné (Comment 20) : nope it wont
it seems Roussouw is going to be our 6 flank 😯 😕 😯
@sharks_lover (Comment 21) :
He is already having nightmares cause Fransie will play 15.
😆 @Morné (Comment 23) :
@Morné (Comment 23) : Actually its said fransie was kicking brilliantly in the training yesterday and was hoofing the ball a mile
@sharks_lover (Comment 16) :
That Pissant is a clever fellow! 🙂
Well, he also wanted JDV to play at 10 so I’m not so sure about him being clever. 😈
@sharks_lover (Comment 25) :
I have no problem with Fransie at 15 given our current options.
@wpw (Comment 26) : 😆
@Morné (Comment 23) :
Isn’t that what most people wanted anyway?
If he does well in that position he can make it his…no close competition…
@wpw (Comment 26) :
Would have solved out problems at 10 ages ago…
@blackshark (Comment 29) :
Before all the injuries I wanted him out of the Bok group!!! 🙂
But yes, he was always going to be much better at 15 for me than anywhere else.
@Morné (Comment 27) : im just so happy he has gone away rom the jpp at FB thought
Jpp best winger in SA why on eather shift him to FB and also he doesnt kick well with either foot
well right foot is so so lol
But a full back must have a very edjucated boot
@sharks_lover (Comment 16) : 😆
@sharks_lover (Comment 32) :
It was not the best idea to want to move JPP.
No trainsmash but not a good idea.
Frans is a better option every way you look at it.
@sharks_lover (Comment 25) : he’s never struggled with distance… direction is something altogether different.
@Morné (Comment 34) :
And Frans Montgomery has a nice ring to it…
@blackshark (Comment 36) : de Villiers will drop him the moment he goes to France. He won’t even play in the 3N.
@robdylan (Comment 37) : True
@robdylan (Comment 37) : What position will he play for his french club???
Centre
@robdylan (Comment 35) :
Give him 3 games…and Frans will kick ass at 15! The only problem would be if he’s not keen. Well, whatever PdV said to RP to convince him to switch to 10…I hope it will work with Fransie.
@Claytie (Comment 40) : So how can he then be considered for FB position, for Boks, in the future???
@Me2 (Comment 42) : He will continue to be a “back of all trades” 🙄
@Me2 (Comment 39) : prima donna
@blackshark (Comment 41) : look, don’t get me wrong. I think Frans will do ok at fullback. I just don’t like him.
@robdylan (Comment 37) :
Ja well, you’re probably right…
Why are we even wasting time on him… 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 45) :
Player-hater!
@robdylan (Comment 44) : 😀
@blackshark (Comment 47) : only certain ones… the arrogant, non-team-player ones
@Me2 (Comment 48) : I thought that was quite clever of me, actually 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 50) :
There’s that humility you are so well known for!!! 🙄
@wpw (Comment 51) : 😆
@robdylan (Comment 50) : and what about my “black of all trades”? I thought I was prity clever ans no one picked me up on it 😥
I’m off to the cottage for a lovely loooong weekend…see you all again on Wednesday!
Cheers!
😳 @Me2 (Comment 53) : “back” of all trades!!!!
@robdylan (Comment 50) :
Just say it Rob…you’re jealous of the mane…
@blackshark (Comment 55) : gah!
Yikes, I’m getting more worried about the first test by the day. PDV has some crazy ideas.
The Bok squad is not balanced. We have excellent players but I’m not convinced he’s gone for the right combo’s. The first mistake was taking the Boks out of the provincial games. It was ONLY the Bulls players that played in the Super 14 semi’s and final and the rest of the guys haven’t had a game since then.
They are going to be seriously rusty in the first test. Then we are starting with JS at tighthead, going to play someone at 15 who is not a regular fullback and looks like a loose trio that is badly unbalanced. How Brussow can be left out is beyond me. Danie Rossouw is excellent but will add so much more as an impact off the bench.
All of these negatives have got me worried that we are going to blow the series like 97, when the Boks were clearly the better team everywhere except on the scoreboard. Then, it was a rookie coach’s diabolical selections that cost us and it looks like it could be deja vu. I hope and pray I’m wrong!!
Where does it say that he is out..???
The media build up of speculation and bells and whistles is gonna do my head in !
Paranoia is alive and well …check
Gud evening
EISH. Why would they in any case lie about the Schalkunator’s availability. Its not like Peter Div is trying to fool (and spring his surprise inclusion come 20 JUNE) the B&IL coz Schalk wasnt in top notch this S14. So me thinks that Pakslae will play 6 and the Boks will get pakslae in the 1st test. PS, and if Schalk was available in any case, i would still go with Brussow ahead of him, IMHO.