Burger blow for the Springboks
Star flank out until January 2007
Springbok talisman Schalk Burger will miss the entire Tri-Nations series – and South Africa's end-of-season tour – after suffering a serious neck injury during South Africa's 29-15 victory over Scotland at the weekend.
It was confirmed on Monday that the Stormers flank would have to undergo neck surgery.
Burger was one of several key players who missed Monday morning's first training session in the leafy Cape Town suburb of Rondebosch – the others being fullback Percy Montgomery, wing Breyton Paulse and centre André Snyman.
At the Springboks' media update session on Monday, at noon, it was confirmed that Burger had damaged his neck, after suffering from a pins and needles sensation on Sunday.
He will now undergo "a neck fusion operation" and will not be back on the rugby field until January 2007.
The situation in the Bok midfield is also not looking too rosy, with centre Jaque Fourie confirming that he will not be available for the French Test – with the cracked ribs still too sensitive to allow him to take contact.
Although he was at training on Monday, he worked mostly on his own with the assistant coaches, doing some running.
"It's getting better, but it is still a bit too sore," Fourie told this website as he sat on the sidelines and watched his team-mates in a contact session.
"But I certainly won't be playing this week. I'm looking at the Tri-Nations," he added.
The good news is that lock Bakkies Botha, who missed the two-Test series against the Scots with an Achilles injury, took full part in Monday's session and looks set to take his place at lock – alongside long-time second row partner Victor Matfield.
Danie Rossouw, who played at lock against the Scots, was moved to flank in place of the injured Burger on Monday and it seems he could be utilised as a loose forward again.
De Wet Barry, drafted in at the weekend after Snyman suffered his wrist injury, ran at inside centre and Wynand Olivier – who starteed his first Test at the weekend – found himself at outside centre.
In the absence of Montgomery and Paulse, Gaffie du Toit was at fullback and fit-again jack-of-all-trades Brent Russell on the right-wing.
Bryan Habana trained on the left-wing, despite suggestions that he could play at outside centre against Les Bleus.
By Howard Kahn and Jan de Koning
