There was a time when he walked a disciplinary tightrope, but Schalk Burger appears to be on course to succeed John Smit as Springbok captain.
The 27-year-old flanker’s first season as captain of the Stormers has been a resounding success, with the Cape side set to play their first home semi-final since 1999 against the Waratahs at Newlands on Saturday.
Burger has been in exceptional form this year and the Stormers’ discipline has also been good under his leadership. Bryan Habana’s yellow card for a professional foul against the Bulls at the weekend was their first of season.
Burger’s experience of 55 Tests and his success as captain of the Stormers may well make him a logical choice as Bok skipper once John Smit and Victor Matfield call time on their Test careers, probably after next year’s World Cup.
It may even be with Allister Coetzee as Bok coach, though Peter de Villiers may also decide to make himself available for another stint.
Coetzee and Burger have been a success story in their first season as head coach and captain.
Former Bok and Stormers captain Corné Krige believes Burger’s major attribute as skipper is that he leads by example.
“If you lead by example, you don’t have to say much. Schalk plays his heart out in every game,” said Krige.
With the Stormers playing the Waratahs on Saturday, many experts will look to pit him against Phil Waugh in a battle of the fetchers.
The reality, however, is that not one of the Stormers’ three leading loose forwards are in the traditional mould of a fetching flank.
Louw is probably the closest to being a fetcher, but the value of all three loose forwards lies in their all-round abilities.
Burger has a good work-rate at the rucks, but is particularly effective as a ball-carrier.
According to Verusco’s statistics, his 220 ball carries this year have yielded 445m made after contact with the first defender.
Waugh wins turnover possession more often, but only made 222m from 196 carries.
All three Stormers loose forwards are also lineout options, while Waugh is not.
The all-round abilities of the Stormers trio may well be what makes them such an impressive unit.
“Schalk is particularly valuable because of his work-rate, but he’s too big and tall to be effective in the traditional role of an openside flank,” said Krige.
“He competes very well considering his height. I would think though that Francois Louw wins more turnover possession than Phil Waugh. Schalk and Duane are probably better ball-carriers than Francois. The fact that all three of them are big also helps the tight five.
“Francois plays to the ball a lot, while Schalk is in more of a playmaking role these days spreading the ball. He has good hands and skills.
“Duane plays back more and is excellent in the traditional role of No 8. They really complement one another well.”
(Stats supplied by www dot ruggastats.com)
Article by Stephen Nell
I think that Schalk is a better captain than Matfield. When John goed he might be the best man for the job.
To my Bulls friends, take a deep breath before you scream at me. Blouste that means you too!
I don’t think they’d scream at you, because I happen to think you might be right. Even though I tipped Jean de Villiers to be the next bok captain, I also liked the way thet Andries Bekker marshalls the troops, reminds me very much of the way that Morne du Plessis (skrum-inspekteur) did it in his hey days.
I would even consider Juan Smith as the next logical contender, but outside of them I can’t see anyone else.
Blouste
No, we do not want Chilliboy…
Yes Schalk is a good captain, he did well to keep the score low when the Sharks thrahed them in Durban.
But seriously, there is a big difference in being a provincial or international captain. The team dynamics in a international setup is much more complicated, and the captain must be able to control players that a week ago wanted to murder each other on the field.
That is where Matfield comes short imo, he was never able to take his good provincial control over to national success. Will Burger be a good Internation captain? He might be, and maybe worth a shot, but the jury is still out on that one.
thrahed – thrashed
Jy moet Kaaps kan verstaan as jy onder Burger speel, dis hoekom Habana so ingeslot het, hy het sterk Kaaps agtergrond. O en JF hy is maar net bleddie goed, dis hoekom hy daar aard.
Personally I would not mind if Schalk is SB Captain, I feel that he would be able to control the team as most of the players from other provinces do respect him and would probably respect him as captain.
Hi Tripples nice to see you back, all well?
5 hahahaha super…….
Dink jy Habs het ook al ‘n passion gap?
7 Yep thank you….just got to get better now!!!!!
cant wait for Saturday, think it is going to be one hell of a semi.
Naai Super, Kaaps is nogallie so moeilik om te vangie. Selfs julle Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners kannit verstaan. Verstaan jy? Ma ek stem, Habs lyk soos een van ons. 😉
Think Burger could be a very good captain. Everyone of the players respect him huge. He HAS MADE a difference to the Stormers side this year and he is playing the best rugby ever.
Read after the Sharks game the next day Burger and John and their families went out together for lunch. Shows how close these Bok players are away from the game.
tripples @ 8
nie alle stormer ondersteuners het passion gaps nie
net
soos wat nie alle bul ondersteuners stom onnosel is nie!! 😀
Schalk is ‘n yster, maar al sy geel- en rooikaarte tel teen hom. Ons soek iemand daar wat kalm en rustig kan bly, deur voorbeeld kan lei, en wat die skeidsregters se beste vriend is.
Wat van Bakkies Botha ?
Fact is Schalk went through 13 rounds of super14 without incurring one yellow or red card.
bdb @ 13
wat ñ goeie idee!! 😯 en om te dink NIEMAND anders sou daaraan gedink het nie!!
wow!! 😀
14: Bakkies ook nie …
15: … that’s what friends are for, keep smiling …
bdb @ 16
lol
12 🙂
Ek dink Bakkies kan dit doen 🙂
WezWP Dit is eintlik ‘n moerse mylpaal wat hy gehaal het, moet my nie verkeerd verstaan nie, ek is en was nog altyd mal oor Schalkie!!!! Al speel hy vir die stormpies !!!!
‘n Vriend van my sê die hele vulkaan storie oor Ysland is n klug …
Die stof is glo as gevolg van die Stormers wat hul trofee kabinet skoon maak!!!
14 – Wez, The captaincy has brought a discipline to his game. Good to see that and he been Stormers Captain this year has made A HUGE DIFFERENCE to the team, they look happy and like a band of close brothers.
Burger too is playing sublime rugby this year. Bekker too.
20 am in total agreement with you Puma, Burger is awesome and I have really always liked him, he has always given his everything when he plays
TRIPS @ 19
hehehe, nee is as gevolg van allie stof wat die bul ondersteuners opgeskop het oor die bakkies-sage!!
13
o ja Schalk het mos daai een keer die ref mooi sy fortune vertel toe hy afgejaag was.
super @ 23
nee, hyt vir hom beduie dat hy (die ref) nie blind is soos wat alle rugby ondersteuners dink nie
maar dat hy (die ref) gebore is met oë in sy g*t!!
schalk het hom eintlik ñ groot guns bewys want nou weet hy waar om sy bril te dra!! 😀
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