Schalk Burger at his best
EXCLUSIVE: Springbok Schalk Burger’s character on and off the field is what has elevated the loose forward to the status of legend.
Morgan Newman and Anton van Zyl played alongside Burger at the Stormers and Western Province and the pair shared their views on how Burger carried himself at training, during matches and off the field.
“I’ve toured with him and for me, he epitomised why we should all play the game. He knew how to bring it at training, he knew how to bring it for 80 minutes but he also knew how to let off steam and enjoy himself. If you see him at training or at the bar, he is always laughing,” Newman said.
Van Zyl made an interesting remark about the players in the modern era.
“I don’t think there are many guys in the modern game who commands much respect from their own team as well as the opposition – on and off the field,” he said.
Newman went on to share something he witnessed when the Stormers played the Crusaders.
“We played the Crusaders in Christchurch and watching Richie McCaw and Schalk [Burger] go hammer and tongs at each other for 80 minutes, it was like vehicles colliding at every tackle and every breakdown.
“And then, game is done, the first thing he [Burger] does is crack a beer and him and Richie [McCaw] are the best of mates,” Newman shared.
Listen to what Morgan Newman and Anton van Zyl has to say about Schalk Burger and more below:
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