Shouldering responsibility
26 Jul 2011
Schalk Burger’s growth as a leader bodes well for the Boks in a World Cup year.
Burger has led the Stormers and WP to three play-offs in the space of two seasons, and the fact that the Cape-based team hasn’t won a championship trophy is no indictment on his leadership ability.
In the new issue of SA Rugby magazine, on sale Wednesday, former Bok captain Corné Krige says Burger is the right man to take the franchise forward, and that his burgeoning leadership skills will be a boon to the Boks.
‘I had my doubts initially about Schalk as a captain because I thought he didn’t want it enough, but he’s proved me wrong with some passionate and determined performances,’ says Krige. ‘He leads by example which is exactly what a captain needs to do. It’s a pity he never got the chance to carry that form through to the Tri-Nations because he would have added value to the Boks’ leadership core.
Burger also talks about his leadership style and development, and looks ahead to his third World Cup campaign.
Also in the new issue:
– Why South Africa’s top Super Rugby franchises fell short this season
– The new Super Rugby format took its toll on players and spectators
– Heyneke Meyer on how Super Rugby will shorten players’ careers, why he believes the Boks have a good chance of defending the World Cup, and whether he will apply for the Bok job
– The Tri-Nations changed the face of southern hemisphere rugby
– Frans Steyn has grown up as a player and a person during his time with Racing Métro
– Are the players, the referees or the impractical laws to blame for the profound mess at the scrum? SA Rugby magazine’s panel of experts identifies the problems and offers possible solutions
– The Baby Boks couldn’t handle the pressure at this year’s Junior World Championship
– Griquas scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius on his move to the Waratahs, being snubbed by the Springboks and why the Currie Cup format should stay the same
– Frédéric Michalak has rekindled his relationship with the Sharks
– Schoolboy rugby players who take performance-enhancing drugs are playing a dangerous game
– South African-born Saracens lock Mouritz Botha has set his sights on playing Test rugby for England
– Kings coach Alan Solomons on winning the Nations Cup, their latest signings, and why they don’t want to play in a European club competition
– Butch James tells his funniest tour tale
– Free double-sided poster of Schalk Burger and Frans Steyn
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70 Comments
26 Jul 2011, 06:22 am
Pity the praise for Schalk came from Corne Krige, the crappest Bok captain in a long, long while. Who can forget the shower of shite at RWC 2003…and everything that preceded it during Corne’s inglorious tenure?
No, Schalk doesn’t need some filthy failure like Corne to back his cause.
Indeed, no-one needs Corne to back their cause, such is his ‘esteem’.
26 Jul 2011, 06:46 am
Aplon on way home……
Probably means Lambie to start at 15….
which in turn means we will be stuck with the skop en jag donkey aka M Steyn at 10
ho bloody hum
26 Jul 2011, 06:55 am
where’s the article about how the Boks administration are the laughing stock of world rugby, with an unqualified clown and incompetant sidekicks coaching the rugby out of ‘once in a generation’ Boks and soiling the long and proud history of South African rugby?
Regards,
Mr Positive
26 Jul 2011, 07:11 am
“the fact that the Cape-based team hasn’t won a championship trophy is no indictment on his leadership ability.”
Really, really now. Burger is no leader and no captain, he turned his back on his team because of a sore finger, in a do or die match.
Let’s not talk about his poor captaincy and decision making in the super and CC finals, how many kickable penalties did he turn down putting unnecessary pressure on his team? In a final you always take your kicks for point, but bone head does not know that so will the WP press stop blowing him up to be the next Bok captain.
26 Jul 2011, 07:32 am
The race is on between Schalk and Jean how can steal the most front covers. Where is the covers of semi naked woman in Currie Cup jerseys?
26 Jul 2011, 07:38 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-5: That use to be the ish back in the day!
26 Jul 2011, 07:41 am
Cool cover….it looks Superman-ish
26 Jul 2011, 07:42 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-6: Before we know it we will get Bob Skinstad shirtless…. oh wait….
26 Jul 2011, 07:51 am
yes it is a little ridiculous to celebrate guys who ‘almost’ got there. its turning into a ‘soccer’ style fiasco. we should celebrate winners and only winners.
am keen to read what heyneke’s got to say about the boks wc chances.
26 Jul 2011, 07:52 am
@RL(RL)-4:
Here’s a guy who broke vertebra in his neck, had them fused and came back to play with no regard for his own body…!! Who completed a game with a broken rib…!!
And… if you saw the video of his arm in a cast… his thumb is NOT in plaster-of-paris which means he did not turn “his back on his team because of a sore finger, in a do or die match…” it is more than his thumb or finger that got broke… if you look at the game video of him kneeling down with the doc he is looking at his his arm or wrist… not his finger…
criticise burger all you like… but the fact that you accuse him of whimping out of a game indicates more about whence your criticism comes than it says about burger’s captaincy credentials…
26 Jul 2011, 08:03 am
Good morning all.
Good player…. but imo he was a great player.
Regarding his guts, heart, commitment… this guy is a monster and will always give his all.
Captain?… as said previously last year…. imo one of the major reasons (if not the biggest) WP/Stormers haven’t won anything in the last 2 years.
Am i correct in saying that Vermeulen is now Wp’s captain? If so – also mistake…good player but a “hothead”.
26 Jul 2011, 08:03 am
Those fingers have been there and done it over and over. he of all people should know when it is not working like it should- or dhouldn’t.
26 Jul 2011, 08:04 am
dhouldn’t= shouldn’t
26 Jul 2011, 08:15 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-7:
you like big boys in tight tops?
26 Jul 2011, 08:16 am
@ruans dad has told ruans mom that ruan doesnt have a legend…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-14:
26 Jul 2011, 08:19 am
@Staal(Staal)-11: Agree with the Vermeulen issue. Quite strange. Perhaps they want soemone to follow in Schalk’s footsteps and lead by example.
26 Jul 2011, 08:20 am
@ufo(ufo)-10: Supersport commentators said he turned his back on his team, and there he was bare feet and all walking away from his team mates
26 Jul 2011, 08:20 am
@ruans dad has told ruans mom that ruan doesnt have a legend…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-14: ha ha
26 Jul 2011, 08:21 am
@ufo(ufo)-10:
its nor his guts, determination and ‘throw everything at it, give it all you got’ ‘credentials’ thats in question. its his brain farts in big matches that counts against him. captains can never do brain ffarts
26 Jul 2011, 08:29 am
@RL(RL)-17: he looked quite upset when he walked away…..looked like he could punch a hole in the wall next to him.
26 Jul 2011, 08:36 am
Better captain than Victor Matfield!
TROLL!
I’m just taking the piss. He has made some stupid decisions, but he’s a different kind of player since becoming captain. He still brings the hard edge but is a much smarter player than a few seasons ago, not necessarily in some of the calls he’s made as captain but more in the way he himself plays the game. Burger not being a card machine anymore can only help the boks at the WC.
26 Jul 2011, 08:37 am
@grant10(grant10)-2: Is that confirmed?
26 Jul 2011, 08:39 am
@grant10(grant10)-2: @Yetirat(Yetirat)-22:
Ja, where’d you see that?
26 Jul 2011, 08:41 am
Just wait till skoppie sees this, I bet he will type that Nokia up into a frenzy.
26 Jul 2011, 08:46 am
For goodness sake he ain’t a leader’s a s s
26 Jul 2011, 08:47 am
@Eish(youwha)-3: how is pdv “unqualified”, ever read his cv?
26 Jul 2011, 08:53 am
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-24: the battery will be fried up when he is done
26 Jul 2011, 09:11 am
I won’t say Schalk is a brilliant captain , but leading the side has definitely improved his discipline , how many yellow cards has the guy received in the last 2 years ?
And he used to be a walking yellow card , maybe keeping his hair short has given him a bit more camouflage in the ruck hahaha
26 Jul 2011, 09:12 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-26:
oh, i havn’t seen the doccie but did google it as i’m interested in seeing it.
how can you defend this man with a straight face? the guy’s a buffoon, albeit a loveable buffoon. its just the truth. he’s a great ‘man-manager’ maybe and is very good at getting better people around him to do their bit more often than not, but he’s no brain. he reminds me of ian mcgeechan a lot in fact. they’re very similar and have a ‘charismatic or spiritual’ type ability to influence people in the right direction without having the requisite understanding and ability needed to take people in the right direction by way of their own minds.
26 Jul 2011, 09:17 am
@ruans dad has told ruans mom that ruan doesnt have a legend…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-29: is he “unqualified”? he might be incompetent but he is not “unqualified”, know the difference?
26 Jul 2011, 09:39 am
Heavens help us, great player but hell how many points has he cost the Stormers/WP by not kicking for poles – and this in BIG matches! Jean Div a better bet for the Stormers.
……………..also, when things get tough he wants to do everything: clear the rucks, play scrummie (actually pushed Dunvehage out of the way to pass the ball), play centre, and even tried a drop goal.
No Schalkie, first name in my Bok team but not captain
26 Jul 2011, 09:40 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-30:
i’m sorry if it slips you. in his case its the same thing.
its like saying because jacob maroga has some qualifications, assessment of his working competency in regard to his performance on the job should be measured strongly around the fact of his having qualifications, and less so on his performance on the job.
yet we all know, rolling black outs are rolling black outs.
when people anywhere in the world (at least, in the places where people get sshit done) ask you if you have qualifications, what they mean is – do you have competency.
know the difference
26 Jul 2011, 09:47 am
I’m a WP/Stormers supporter and I will gladly admit that Schalk is a great player who gives it his all during every game.
But he ain’t captain material. He has brain explosions on the field regularly.
26 Jul 2011, 09:56 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-30: It’s pointless arguing with him Transie. He’s made up his mind already. But to refresh his memory and those of some other forum members, can you post something here. Hell, for a laugh, post it alongside Jake’s.
26 Jul 2011, 10:00 am
The issue of captaincy is such a complex scenario.
Not only does a captain need to;
Lead by example
Be a good communicator
Be an ambassador
Be a motivator
Be an extension of the coach on the park
Be media friendly
And 1000 things more.
Most of all, he needs to be a student of the not only his own game, but that of the game itself and pick up trends on and off the field.
He needs to be a thinker, philosopher, and inventor all in one.
His character needs to be unflappable without being over-imposing.
He needs to be respected not feared or worshipped.
Very few players in world rugby ticks most of these boxes let alone all of them.
A great leader can inspire an average group of people to great things, a poor leader can destroy the most talented group of individuals.
As much as the basics of the game will never change, the basics of selecting the right group of players leaded by the right person will remain one of the most important aspects of rugby ever.
You can coach rugby players and athletes to be in the best condition physically using the latest technologies and coaching techniques, but what will set the champions apart from the also-rans at the highest levels of sport is their application and execution not only as individuals, but in the case of rugby, as a collective. And that collective, that aspect which ensures that 22 brilliantly talented individuals works towards the same goal and find themselves in the right mental space to execute it, is the job of a captain.
I agree with Staal, Schalk ticks some of these boxes, but with all respect to the guy, not nearly enough to be considered a great leader.
26 Jul 2011, 10:01 am
leaded – wtf….
You get what I mean.
26 Jul 2011, 10:01 am
@Frik(frikodel)-33:
isn’t it possible to take lessons for that? the onfield brain thing.
26 Jul 2011, 10:07 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-36:
yes. it will be a shame if wp drags his time out really.
sometimes you have take something away from a man in order to make him realise waht he needs to do in order to get it back.
maybe this is what ac/rassie need to do.
26 Jul 2011, 10:11 am
@Kietzphat(Kietzphat)-23: It’s on iafrica.com
26 Jul 2011, 10:19 am
@grant10(grant10)-2: Here is the chance for me to be proven wrong- and I would love to be proven WRONG- I say toss the ball to EJ and prove me wrong- I have never been able to see the ‘magic’ everyone believes he has. They could go with Ruan at 10 boet- I am not saying it’s a good idea- but you know how Snor operates. What other 15s do we have besides Lambie and Aplon?
26 Jul 2011, 10:21 am
Joe Maher – Your critiscm of Krige is a bit unfair. Krige served as captian under the worst Bok coach in Bok history!!! The coach influences his captian and his players, so the blame always goes back to the coach!
Krige was a great competitor, captian courageous, but as i say had to live under a pig of Bok coach!
26 Jul 2011, 10:22 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-26: I don’t think anyone has- it’s been kept hidden along with Bakkies’ hidden sperm sample
26 Jul 2011, 10:24 am
@race of tan(race of tan)-41: Did the coach force him to chow an ear?
26 Jul 2011, 10:35 am
PissAnt #35 – A great comment as usual. One has only to look at the AB captians that have failed over the last 3 RWCs. All 3 times the ABs lost direction completely under pressure, captiancy went bye bye and the players started playing untypical AB rugby.
26 Jul 2011, 10:36 am
bangkok-bok – Wasn’t that Johan Roux who chowed Fiztpatricks(moutn almighty) ear in 94!! Which i am glad about!! tee hee
26 Jul 2011, 10:57 am
Ja he was cleared- yet suspected of biting Scott Robertson’s ear. Johan Roux bit Fitzpatrick’s ear I think.
26 Jul 2011, 11:00 am
@race of tan(race of tan)-45:
brendon cannon claimed he bit his ear if i remember.
26 Jul 2011, 11:00 am
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-1:
Krige is IMO one of the most overrated Springboks ever but I felt he always gave 100% for the Boks.
26 Jul 2011, 11:03 am
Burger cannot play 6 at the WC. It is just not his position.
26 Jul 2011, 11:11 am
Poor old Schalk. Being supported by Corne Krige must be just like being an Repulican Presidential candidate and suddenly reading that G.Dubya Bush has officially endorsed your road to the White House – time to pack up and go home !
26 Jul 2011, 11:15 am
Honestly, I would have prefered JDV or Bekker is Captain than Schalk
26 Jul 2011, 11:35 am
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-51: I say Jacques Fourie. He already runs defence in the backline which is one of the strongest part of the Stormers game.
26 Jul 2011, 11:48 am
@Lazer(Lazer)-31: please NOT Jean Div he is a D. oos just ask the players no respect …. some of them do not even talk to him
26 Jul 2011, 12:05 pm
The next Bok captain will depends on who replaces Snorre. If it is Allistair Coetzee, Schalk or Jean will be the captain. Juan Smith will be a better choice (imo) but then, his injuries is a mayor concern. Not one of them will make RWC 2015.
Don’t forget that Chilliboy is seen by rugby adminastrators (hidden politicians) as a future captain. At least we will have a better hooker than Barney.
26 Jul 2011, 12:12 pm
@Divz(Divz)-53:
really? or are making things up, stretching the truth?
26 Jul 2011, 12:16 pm
@Tjokker(Tjokker)-54: How about someone like Andries Bekker as captain?My guess is they will go with one of the frat boys in Hargreaves.
26 Jul 2011, 12:48 pm
@ruan has told his dad that he is busy building a legend…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-55: I know some of the stormers its the inside word. He apparently shines for cameras and chicks and becomes a real pri..ck when he is with the team. Dissing the jnr guys in the team in front of everyone is a favourite.
26 Jul 2011, 13:06 pm
He leads very well by example, but his decision making in the pressure situations leaves much to be desired
26 Jul 2011, 13:17 pm
@WP_(WP_)-58:
He does not read game situations well.
Nothing wrong with his work ethic.
26 Jul 2011, 13:22 pm
@Divz(Divz)-57:
wow!
did not know that.
26 Jul 2011, 13:45 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-59: Agree, he has one of the highest workrates in world rugby
26 Jul 2011, 14:38 pm
Burger is a sadomasichistic lunatic who is dirty as hell. I’d rather have Juan Smith as captain if he is fit to play that is. We must be the only team that has such a crisis at captain. Jeez doesn’t SA produces any leaders anymore? PdV has turned the Boks into a bunch of braindead fckwits! We need a captain who can actually play and a fcking game plan! How hard can it be?! Even Scotland and Italy possess these key aspects!!
26 Jul 2011, 14:58 pm
Must say was pleasantly suprised with Burger’s leadership this year, Next season with victor and John gone, really only leaves stormers and cheetahs to come up with someone. Lions??
26 Jul 2011, 15:25 pm
@ufo(ufo)-10:
Disregarding ALL the C R A P you wrote there, bar one, allow me just a question or two wrt one aspect.
What?
Is it the smallest of the 8 wrist bones, the itsy bitsy Pisiform, that he needed his effin arm in a cast for? I guess we should consider ourselves so lucky he did not put his upper body in a cast.
What needs to be in a cast is his teeny peanut sized ‘brain’.
26 Jul 2011, 16:35 pm
RSA… WP… do not deserve Schalk… yet he doesn’t give a fark about their fair-weathered fans… he’s a straight A student, comes from an awesomely successful family… has a degree in Viticulture… is earning a mint playing the ‘sport’ he loves… and is dominating on the world stage according to his international peers..
And when it’s all over will go back to making some of the most progressive Wines to come out of ‘boring’ Old World RSA wines…
LEGEND!!!!!
26 Jul 2011, 16:44 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-65: hahahahaha
26 Jul 2011, 18:28 pm
@grant10(grant10)-2: Steyn isn’t the problem, he has shown his team can play running rugby with him at 10 for years.
The problem is the guy he gives the ball to – Wynand Olivier, this player runs into brick walls rarely passing before contact and when he does it’s often a poorly timed pass which creates nothing. Bok backline moves die with him.
At Super level it works because he gets over the gainline, at test level he gets nowhere.
26 Jul 2011, 21:35 pm
@ruan has told his dad that he is busy building a legend…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-55:
That’s nonsense. I saw a Stormers group at dinner at Hudson’s in CT a week before the S15 semi. Mostly younger players like Koster, Flo and Deon Fourie. Jean DV joined them and was warmly welcomed by all. You could see he was one of them.
27 Jul 2011, 04:40 am
Ok I’m going to put it out there.
Francois Steyn at 10. Pat Lambie at 15. Steyn does everything in general play as well as Lambie if not better, plus he can kick the ball a hell of a lot further then Lambie, and is a lot more physical on defense in that 10-12 channel. His drawbacks, he sometimes has brain explosions… but he’s been getting experience playing inside backs at Racing Metro.
I have favored Butch, and still do slightly depending on how he goes in the Tri Nations tests at home. But next year I really think our best option would be a combination of Pienaar & F Steyn as halfbacks, with Lambie at fullback where he can be brought into the line rather then being required to run the ship. Lambie will also probably spend the entire Super rugby campain next year at 15 while Steyn plays 10 & 12 at Racing.
2012 Bok backline that I’d love to see. 9 Ruan Pienaar 10 Francois Steyn 11 Bryan Habana (until someone good who can also tackle comes along) 12 Juan de Jongh 13 Johann Sadie 14 JP Pietersen 15 Pat Lambie.
27 Jul 2011, 04:55 am
@cramp.easy(cramp.easy)-68:
Ja plain rubbish. From what I’ve heard JdV is the joker in the side, but we don’t know their personailties. Most people on here only know what their names are and what they look like, because they also don’t know much about how well they play rugby.
It’s funny how we get idiots like this who can’t wait to drag the next SA rugby player through the mud. Jerry Collins can piss on the field and the kiwis laugh it off. In SA Wynand Olivier only need to have good looks and everyone south of Pretoria hates him with a passion.
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