Sharks hooker Craig Burden has replaced injured hooker Bismarck du Plessis in the 26-man Springbok squad that will travel to Argentina for their second Rugby Championship match this coming weekend.
rugbyweek
Bismarck du Plessis will be out for the rest of the season after he injured his right knee early in the Boks’ 27-6 win over the Pumas in Cape Town on Saturday night.
The SA Rugby Union (Saru) said in a statement that the injury would require surgery.
Apart from Du Plessis, five players were added to the match 22 that beat Argentina, in order to provide depth in certain crucial positions.
Tiaan Liebenberg and Burden (hookers), Dean Greyling (prop), Juandre Kruger (lock) and Jano Vermaak (scrumhalf) were all included in the touring squad.
“We only finalised the touring squad after the Test against Argentina at Newlands on Saturday afternoon as we wanted to first assess the injury situation,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“It’s never nice to leave behind players, but we’re only permitted to travel with 26 players.
“The players that stay behind will benefit from game time in the Currie Cup and will certainly be in the selection frame when we select the squad for the next leg of the Rugby Championship.”
Springbok squad:
Forwards: Willem Alberts, Andries Bekker, Craig Burden, Pat Cilliers, Marcell Coetzee, Keegan Daniel, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Dean Greyling, Juandre Kruger, Tiaan Liebenberg, Tendai Mtawarira, Jacques Potgieter, Adriaan Strauss, Flip van der Merwe.
Backs: Jean de Villiers (Captain), JJ Engelbrecht, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Zane Kirchner, Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo, Ruan Pienaar, Frans Steyn, Morne Steyn, Jano Vermaak
Congratulations young man. Your game has certainly come on in leaps and bounds in recent times.
Just beware the tainted offerings of SARU, usually a bag containing 30 pieces of silver!
A little while ago SA had great depth at hooker, two cruel injuries and the cupboard is bare. Strauss is as good as any hooker in the world. Liebenberg and Burden are S15 / CC level players.
All the best Burden. Has played well for this call up, though he will only be there for back up if Struass or Liebenberg gets injured during training this week. Doubt he will be on the bench. Just nice for him to be with the Boks and feel the vibe. Though personally on a selfish basis, I would have liked him in the Sharks side this week to play the Bulls.
Still feel great for him that he got recognised by Meyer.
2 @ LosBokJanKoppie:
From what I have read on some of the rugby sites is that Chili will be over his injury before we travel to Oz and Nz. So think he will be travelling by that time with the Boks.
Massive blow though to lose Bissie.
Craig Burden has indeed come on in leaps and bounds and slowly but surely improves with every further game he plays.
To rights he should be a starting hooker somewhere and not behind Bissie for more than half a year at a time.
A regular starting spot next year whilst Bissie is still out might just set Burden alight for bigger things.
I rate him and I like his work rate.
Craig, like many players before him, lives in the shadow of one of the greats, as long as Bissie is available, Craig will at best get a few minutes off the bench at the end of the game for the Sharks, and the same applies for the Boks if Strauss is fit.
Give him his due for sticking around, many others in this position have moved overseas, and I wouldnt have blamed him, he will forever be the Sharks number two hooker, and is highly unlikely to be a regular Bok unless we have a spate of injuries.
Rugby players dont have a long working career, so I am slightly surprised he hasnt gone away to earn Euros or Pounds or Yen.
I admire Burden for his loyalty etc, but don’t rate him higher than CC level as a hooker.
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