Meyer: True Bok warrior to face haka
Just over two years ago Schalk Burger was fighting for his life in the intensive care unit. On Saturday he will lead the Springboks as they face up to the mighty All Blacks' haka.
In 2012 Burger underwent knee surgery, after suffering an injury in the opening match of the season. After a long struggle to work his way back to full fitness, the Bok veteran strained his calf in training and has had a couple of setbacks as he tried to work his way back from the latest injury. In the process he contracted bacterial meningitis and ended up in a hospital's intensive care unit..
It is that kind of fighting spirit – or as Bok coach Heyneke Meyer puts it, a true warrior – that South Africa will need against the might of New Zealand.
The seasoned loose forward, Burger, will become the 55th Springbok captain on Saturday.
The 32-year-old Burger has been named interim captain, in the absence of the injured Jean de Villiers and Victor Matfield.
He assumes the captaincy from Matfield, who was ruled out of action in the short term after suffering a hamstring strain against Australia last Saturday.
Burger said a challenge doesn't get any bigger than leading your country against the All Blacks.
"As a youngster, growing up in South Africa, everything revolves around the Springboks versus the All Blacks," the new Bok skipper said, adding that he is looking forward to the challenge.
Burger said his captaincy style is not to talk too much off the field, but rather let his game do the talking.
"I like to lead from the front, by the way I play," the new Bok skipper said, adding: "I have been around for a while, so we are quite calm."
He felt a key element is the ability to give clear direction to the team.
"We have a big group of senior players and they all lead certain facets of the game."
He also admitted there was a time, during and just after his illness, that he thought he would never play for the Boks again.
"I was just begging for one more Test match," he said, adding: "This happened all a bit quickly. One day when I sit back and reflect on it, it will seem
like a fairytale."
The Bok coach, Heyneke Meyer, said it was an "honour and privilege" to make the appointment and described it as a "great story and fairytale come true".
"People said he may never play again and now I have named him captain," Meyer told a media briefing at the team's training base in Johannesburg.
"It is not a decision I took lightly, as I believe the Bok captain should lead from the front.
"I am 100 percent certain it is he right decision."
He described Burger as a true warrior on and off the field.
"We will need a warrior [against the All Blacks] on Saturday," Meyer said, adding that he is proof that you should never give up on your dreams.
"He has been an inspiration for the nation, an inspiration for the team and an inspiration for me.
"In my eyes, the captaincy is very important and something I never take lightly or want to cheapen.
"Schalk's character and the fact that he has been a role model for so many through the years made this an easy decision."
Meyer also spoke about Burger's calmness and his leadership ability when he took over from the injured Matfield again Australia last week.
"He may not be a big talker, but when he gets between those four lines [on the field] he will step up to the plate and that is what we will need on Saturday."
The Bok coach added that it was always in the back of his mind that Burger can be a great leader for South Africa, but he wasn't available as a result of his injuries and illness.
Meyer also revealed that Matfield will most likely only be sidelined for one game with the hamstring injury he suffered in Brisbane.
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
