Reason to smile
7 Nov 2011
Schalk Burger, the 2011 SA Player of the Year, should be the cornerstone of the Springbok side in 2012 and beyond.
Burger, who first played for the Boks in a 2003 World Cup match against Georgia, enjoyed an outstanding tournament in New Zealand, exhibiting the same abrasive energy that marked him as a 20-year-old debutant. He also made use of the experience he’s accumulated over 60-plus Tests, as well as some recently acquired skills, to leave a lasting impression.
The next Bok coach will face the challenge of building a new team and a new leadership group. Burger is certain to be one of the pillars, if not a strong candidate for the captaincy itself. Some tough decisions will need to be made by the coach, and the ageing veterans may need to make way for the promising youngsters, but a clever man-manager will realise that Burger is the kind of player he can build his new team around.
Also in the new issue of SA Rugby magazine, on sale this week:
– We analyse the Springboks’ World Cup campaign and rate all the players
– Why the Springboks must adapt their game plan in order to achieve consistent success
– Richie McCaw has a phenomenal playing record, but McCaw the player is even more impressive
– All Blacks coach Graham Henry has found peace at last
– We review all 48 matches of the 2011 World Cup
– The minnows made progress at the recent World Cup despite an unfair playing field
– Jon Cardinelli chronicles some of the World Cup adventures enjoyed by the SA Rugby magazine team during a seven-week sojourn to New Zealand’s rugby-mad North Island
– The SA U18 Sevens’ success at the Commonwealth Youth Games bodes well for the 2016 Olympic Games
Click here to subscribe to print edition
Click here to subscribe to digital edition
791 Comments
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7 Nov 2011, 07:31 am
schalk burger should have a cornerstone stuck up his backside!….ok?…
put that in your pipe and smoke it dragons…
7 Nov 2011, 07:32 am
“cornerstone of the springbok side”…wow!
7 Nov 2011, 07:39 am
i mean really, who writes this stuff?
7 Nov 2011, 07:41 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-3:
Don’t know what you’re getting at.
Schalk Burger needs to be the Springbok number-8!!! Play him where he can be best utilized.
7 Nov 2011, 07:49 am
1. he’s not young enough and fresh enough to be as physical as he used to be anymore for starters.
2. he still has continual brain implosions at crucial times during matches which one would think is perhaps something permanent…i mean he just never seems to learn.
3. his technique is just unique…what kind of springbok runs into traffic backwards?…i mean really?…wtf?
4. he has had no success as a captain over how many seasons now?..and how many more?
5. is he an open-sider or is he a blind-sider…or is he perhaps…wait for it…an 8th man?
6. are there better players available to the springboks in every one of those positions?
7. he still thinks kukking refs out will in fact put his team in a better position, and does it often.
8. are these reasons to smile? who is smiling?…who is smiling?
7 Nov 2011, 07:58 am
bakkies bud…
think you’re a bit OTT here…
schalk still gets through more work on the field more consistently than any other bok…
on ReUnion they said he was one of the players of the tournament, despite us being knocked in the 1/4s, and south africa’s best of the WC…
when a pole was conducted among players going to the WC before the tourney, when asked who hits the hardest… schalk was the overwhelming ‘favorite’ followed by bakkies…
seriously now…
you think his career is over and he shouldn’t be a bok…???
7 Nov 2011, 08:01 am
one thing for absolute certain…..Schalk must never ever never be played at openside ever again……he excelled at WC at blindside….that is where he must compete ….
Vermeulen, Alberts for 8
Brussow…F LOuw at openside…….
No bloody AC Brainfarts with schalk at openside……see where it got WP in Semis of CC….as I predicted!
7 Nov 2011, 08:05 am
@grant10(grant10)-7:
yeah grant… i’m with you on this one…
however, if juan is fit i would play him at 8
7 Nov 2011, 08:08 am
Let’s see… most Keo fans are just so ****** subjectively stupid it’s beyond belief!
Firstly for all those nostalgic Currie Cup fans listen very carefully, comprehend, contemplate and then communicate!
Ready?
Which is the more accomplished achievement out of these two competitions?
- A competition where the Springboks are missing for 80% of the season, it involves 3 average teams that are outside of the big 5 and history has shown that past winners have had zero bearing on Super Rugby success…
-In the other corner there’s a competition between the big 5 powerhouses, contested by the very best 30 man squads available in RSA… and is contested both home and away?
Why yes it’s really not rocket science that winning the S15 RSA conference is light-years ahead of the Currie Cup in the accomplishment stakes!
Guess who captained that side in 2011 that smashed all and sundry that RSA had to offer them?
Guess who captained his side to second place in two consecutive years since taking over in the toughest club competition in the world?
Guess who had the best stats (with big Vic closely behind) out of any RSA forward in the S15 in 2011?
Guess who had the best stats (with big Vic closely behind) out of any RSA forward in the 2011 RWC?
That’s rhetorical!
7 Nov 2011, 08:15 am
Agree that Schalk is the only logical choice going forward. He leads by example as well.
7 Nov 2011, 08:16 am
@ufo(ufo)-6:
i’m not saying he shouldnt be a bok but i am saying i dont think he should be the ‘cornerstone’ on which to rebuild the boks.
he has a role and he has a style and he most likely will not evolve beyond that.
this is fine if he accepts it and the coach uses him for what his best at and not for roles he cannot fulfill.
this would be a mistake and the result would mean faltering at the final hurdle in all likelihood. this is his track record after all.
i hate to say this but that try cost us the match imo…and just like that all his incredible work was lost on the back of one domkop move. but no, i dont think he must not be a bok but i certainlt dont think he should be a ‘cornerstone’ bok.
7 Nov 2011, 08:18 am
@ufo(ufo)-8:
so we are agreed?
there are in fact better players available in every one of those positions.
now what?….
7 Nov 2011, 08:21 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-9:
then i wont answer it.
7 Nov 2011, 08:22 am
So the Stormers are depending on there young home grown forwards instead of buying a few heavies. Same forwards dominated last season why cant they do it again.
7 Nov 2011, 08:25 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-11: If he is not a ‘cornerstone bok’ then who is? Who will the side be built around?
7 Nov 2011, 08:27 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-11:
bud… you’re being selectively critical here… the try was a planned move with heinrich brussow actually grabbing his jersey before the move… brussow got cleaned out and could not support burger or secure the ball…
but with the game nearly done we were ahead before danie rossouw upended their lock and the penalty gave them the game…
it’s a bit rich to blame one guy for the loss when so many mistakes were made… i still haven’t blamed bryce for our loss for exactly that reason… we had our chances and did not take them and made too many mistakes as a team…
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-12:
no… we’re not agreed… i think schalk, on the form he showed in the WC, is our best 7… which is why would play juan at 8 (and the fact that juan has more experience at 8)
also i don’t understand how because of our personal perceptions and bias we rate one player above another but then have to trash the other and blame them for all the faults in the team…
more importantly bakes bud…
it’s easy to trash someone and ridicule another’s opinion that that player should be the cornerstone of the team…
but instead of just being critical… tell us who you think should be the cornerstone(s) of the team going forward… because every team does need a group of players to be the core around which the team moves forward….
name your cornerstone… or cornerstones…
7 Nov 2011, 08:28 am
Schalk played his heart out but played too much like Luke Watson in the World Cup for my liking. Our gameplan was so lacking that very often Schalk was standing at first or second receiver in the backline.
Which poses Schalk’s biggest problem? What is he? Definitely not an opensider? Does he understand the technical aspects of blindsider?
7 Nov 2011, 08:29 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-14:
i hope it wont turn out this way but i feel this will be the cross by which rassie will crucify himself next season.
7 Nov 2011, 08:33 am
Another Schalk cover?
7 Nov 2011, 08:34 am
@ufo(ufo)-16:
Do you seriously think Juan Smith can a> recover from this career ending type of injury at test level b> still have his former speed with this type of injury at test level c> has much more game-time at test level in him considering the amount of times he’s been concussed?
He’s a machine… I certainly hope so… but I have my doubt he’ll recover to play much more, if any test rugby again…
IMO (and I hope I’m incorrect) he’ll either finish off his career at the Cheetahs or head off for some much-deserve last season cash overseas.
7 Nov 2011, 08:35 am
Good morning.
If (yes it’s a big word) Juan Smit was fit for the Wc i would have played Juan and Ratel.
Schalla gives his all but is imo just a great defender – no more. Imo Ratel and Juan brings more to the table.
I must honestly say i was very very surprised when i heard Schalla is SA’s player of the year till i heard he was chosen by the supporters……
The players chose Bissie.
As a Schalla supporter i must say that he was always one to “catch the eye” on the field with his ferocious defending. To be able to defend is imo just the basics of the game… we need more.
Ok – i am running for cover!
7 Nov 2011, 08:35 am
unlike some wise guys who stated here last week that schalk stands at first receiver from “first phase”… which is rubbish…
it’s normally from second or more phase and is part of the game plan… especially when the back line has been caught in possession and are wrapped up in the maul or ruck… in that case forwards fill in the gap and most probably the forwards the team feels gives them go-forward…
this is not unique to the boks and all the other teams do it… brad thorne and kevin mealamu do it for the ABs…
but again… to blame burger for this is nott being fair… IMO…
7 Nov 2011, 08:38 am
Schalla is a legend!
Now an article on Spies please! Just how useless he is and why he should never play in the Bok jersey ever again.
7 Nov 2011, 08:38 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-15:
well it has to be juan simply for charisma.
as for a captain, perhaps we should go for a younger player, allowing him to grow in the role, and have schalk there as a deputy to back the new captain up like brad did for maccaw.
if we’re gonna use a cerebral criteria then maybe jdp or lambie for starters…(i realise now that it needs careful consideration to come up with a most suited and likely leader for the boks, and by this i mean a real thinker)
7 Nov 2011, 08:39 am
Schalk is a beast in the same way that fuckadilly is a headcase.
Absolutely a cornerstone for boks.
A cornerbok.
7 Nov 2011, 08:39 am
@Lions_Soutie(Lions_Soutie)-17: Technical Aspects of a Blindsider?
7 Nov 2011, 08:41 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-3: crazy people man, crazy people writes ccrap like this … bonehead is not good enough any more and should retire.
7 Nov 2011, 08:42 am
Who ever becomes the next bok captain should at least be picked as captain when he’s in form. I dont think there should be placed so much emphasis on the role of the captain.
There should be a group of senior players who could step up and lead the team. So if there is a better player (in form) one day, Schalk or who ever who is struggling with form should not be automatically be picked just because he’s captain…
Identify at least 4 leaders and tell them that they will be the captains for the next 4 years. Each year this group of leaders could be adapted, so that the best possible players get picked each season.
7 Nov 2011, 08:43 am
@Jeez(Jeez)-28:
Too many chiefs again and too few Indians. Make them all captains. Don’t think so mate. We have to learn from our previous mistake.
7 Nov 2011, 08:44 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-24: How much longer is Juan Smith going to play? 1 maybe 2 seasons? Andries Bekker is youngish and will be in his prime at the next world cup.
7 Nov 2011, 08:44 am
It’s easy…
choose me 1 player that we couldn’t have played without this year and make him player of the year.. imo.
7 Nov 2011, 08:44 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-9: shutup you fool. Leave us saffas to rip a new one in Burger and go and worry yourself about the moering that Deans is about to get.
7 Nov 2011, 08:46 am
Noooooooooiiiiit!
Ernstig? Het Snorre regtig gesê hy is weer beskikbaar vir die afrigtings pos?
7 Nov 2011, 08:47 am
@Staal(Staal)-21:
I thought the media chose him?
7 Nov 2011, 08:47 am
@Staal(Staal)-33:
Dom bly dom ou mater…
7 Nov 2011, 08:48 am
@ufo(ufo)-16:
jdp, juan and bakkies can and will probably all serve in some or other ‘cornerstone’ role. why start touting burger? to what end? oh of course…to the captaincy end thats it, no?
i think i’d even make jdp a captain ahead of schalk, its just that he’s been tried and tested hasn’t he?
for captaincy in this order:
juan
lambie
fdp
jdp
bakkies (just for being bakkies)
7 Nov 2011, 08:48 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-29: Exactly it wasnt such a good thing in the end when Smitty stayed captain when he should have been dropped…
7 Nov 2011, 08:48 am
Schalk for no 8 and to be the next Bok captain.
At least for the next 1 – 2 years. Its either him or Juan. There are no real other choices for Captain.
6) Ratel Brussouw
7) Juan Smith
8) Schalk
7 Nov 2011, 08:48 am
@Gunther(gunther)-34: i can be wrong – i heard that people could sms? I might be wrong!
I have been wrong before.
7 Nov 2011, 08:50 am
Hulk is a freak of nature.
A must for the team.
7 Nov 2011, 08:51 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-30:
in this regard he can serve a role similar to tana umaga. who was imo tasked to stopgap the intro of a longer term captain.
bekker also has brain implosions at crucial moments, he needs to fix this (if he can).
7 Nov 2011, 08:52 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-30: I am not so convinced about Juan Smith he is 30 now or is it 31? One more concussion and he is done for.
My choice for captain will be Schalk just for his presence within the squad and the way he plays. Fearsome. My vice captain will be someone in the backline. Jaque Fourie will be my choice as Vice Captain. He is a great communicator in the backline. After two years there can always be younger candidates possibly taking over from Schalk and Jaque.
7 Nov 2011, 08:56 am
Chill for captain. Bissie to continue his “supersub” role.
You heard it here first.
7 Nov 2011, 08:56 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-36: Lambie
After talking sense in post #5 you coke up with Lambie? He who is too slow for fullback and only the 3rd best 10 behind the super talented Elton and freakish Goosen.
7 Nov 2011, 09:00 am
schalk just not an opesider…….
klaar
7 Nov 2011, 09:01 am
@Staal(Staal)-39:
I am frequently wrong.
We’ll ask someone clever.
Like stormersboy.
7 Nov 2011, 09:02 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-43: lol
7 Nov 2011, 09:07 am
Schalk Burger is Fo kk en KONING !!! Agreed not a openside anymore with how the game changed and him as well but for me him and broussouw formed an awesome partnership. If Juan returns 100% I would consider playing Juan at 8 instead though.
7 Nov 2011, 09:07 am
@grant10(grant10)-45: Agreed. 7 or 8 but never 6. Who will your choice be for 6 at Stormers? P.Louw, Rohan Kitshoff. Wenton-Wells, Carr??
7 Nov 2011, 09:09 am
@sparticus(sparticus)-48: That could also work.
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