adminCAPE TOWN – Western Province loose forward Schalk Burger is determined to fight his way back into the Springbok fold. Burger (30) recently returned to the playing field after being sidelined for 18 months due to knee and calf injuries. He also recovered from a life-threatening bout of bacterial meningitis.
He was cautiously brought back by WP during the latter part of the Currie Cup and now looks good to go for the 2014 Super Rugby season.
Burger was quoted as saying on the EWN Sport website that he still has a burning desire to play for the Springboks.
His last Test for the Boks was their 11-9 Rugby World Cup quarter-final loss to Australia in 2011.
Burger said if he plays to his potential there’s “no reason” why he can’t be considered to make an impact at international level.
He is contracted with WP until the end of 2014 but indicated he’d like to remain playing in South Africa, with a call-up for the 2015 Rugby World Cup hopefully on the cards.
“Skalla’s” next game will be on November 30 when he runs out for the Barbarians against Fiji at Twickenham.
Meanwhile, a well-known New Zealand rugby writer has called on coach Steve Hansen to drop flyhalf Dan Carter for their Test against England in London on Saturday.
Chris Rattue from the New Zealand Herald feels Carter was poor in the All Blacks’ 26-19 win over France in Paris at the weekend.
In a column on the website, Rattue wrote: “While the other legendary veteran, Richie McCaw, hurled himself into yet another battle, Carter was pedestrian despite a promising start when he helped give Cory Jane the hint of a try chance. Carter hardly ran again, nor pulled out any of his old magic, and departed before three-quarter time after mirroring the lacklustre 50 minutes he produced in Japan.”
Rattue believes Aaron Cruden or Beauden Barrett deserve to start, especially with the No 10 jersey for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in mind.
The 31-year-old Carter is on 99 Tests and would make his 100th appearance should he play at Twickenham.
The All Blacks will undoubtedly want revenge when they play England on Saturday and preparation looks to have intensified in pursuit of it.
Steve Hansen’s side have been hitting the gym this week and were alongside members of the public at the Ethos Sports Centre in London.
Richie McCaw and co were stretching next to punters at Imperial College near Hyde Park and showed them the hard graft involved in preparing for the clash at Twickenham.- Supersport.
Online Reporter