Monday Feature: Incredible Schalk
Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:52
Schalk Burger has been likened to the Hollywood cult figure Robocop, that indestructible half-man-half-metal hero, and at last year's World Cup the Springbok flank was even renamed 'RoboBok'.
At the weekend, in South Africa's historic 30-28 win over New Zealand in Dunedin, he again showed his true value to the team - with the 42-Test veteran making 22 tackles in a game in which defence was the key.
Player of the Weekend: There is no doubt that the 'Incredible Schalk' (Burger) stood out as the key figure in an impressive Springbok victory. While his defence and boundless energy are obviously the standout characteristics, his value as a ball carrier is often underestimated.
Brief bio of Schalk Burger
Full names: Schalk Willem Petrus
Date of birth: 13 April 1983
Place of birth: Port Elizabeth, South Africa
School: Paarl Gymnasium
Province: Western Province
Physical: 1.93m,
106kg
Test summary: Tests: 42 Tries: 10
First Test: 24 October 2003 - reserve against Georgia, Sydney (World Cup)
Last Test: 12 July 2008 - flank against New Zealand, Dunedin (Tri-Nations)
Villain of the Weekend: Bismarck du Plessis may well feel aggrieved at being given a bigger sentence by the notorious Kiwi disciplinary system (the past fortnight in the disguise of a SANZAR DC hearing) than All Black hardman Brad Thorn (he of the spear tackle fame), but the Bok hooker should not have placed himself in that precarious position in the first place. It is a known fact that New Zealand's TV cameramen and producers pride themselves on catching a Bok doing a dirty. Just don't do it.
Disappointment of the Weekend: John Afoa was talked up as the next best thing since sliced bread in the lead-up to the Test and was set to walk all over Gürthro Steenkamp in the scrums. Nothing came of his scrumming power and his workrate diminished as the game went on.
Try of the Weekend: Is there any doubt? It's Ricky Januarie's match-winning try. Victor Matfield was in the sin bin. The All Blacks led 28-23. There were just over four minutes to go. The Springboks were running into the wall of All Black defence. The defenders dropped Jean de Villiers and a tackle/ruck ensued about eight metres inside the All Blacks' half. The third in succession. Januarie had passed two to his left. He picked up the ball and started to pass this one to the left. He did not pass. He dummied. Keven Mealamu bought the dummy and Nemia Tialata lacked the agility to stop the darting scrumhalf. Little legs pumping Januarie raced downfield. He chipped over Leon MacDonald and raced for the ball which bounced accommodatingly into his belly. He held onto it and dived a swanky dive over for the try.
Quote of the (last) Week: "I don't know Craig Dowd. As close as I got to him was in the TV in my sitting room. I don't know if ever saw me or knows me. What's his agenda? If it is racism or not, I've found out that in South Africa it's a big thing, racism, but in other countries, especially here and in Australia it is big too, really big, so maybe you can ask him that." - Springbok coach Peter de Villiers playing the race card when his credentials were questioned.
What if...: The Springboks regained their No.1 world ranking by beating the All Blacks at the weekend, but what would happen if they were to lose against the Wallabies in Perth this coming Saturday? Nothing really. Even if they lose by more than 15 points to the Wallabies (an unlikely margin), they will still have enough rankings points in the bag to stay in first place. The Boks could drop to a low of 89.34 rankings points (from their current 91.37), but with the Kiwis on 89.23, the South Africans will stay first. A big Bok win, by more than 15 points, could see them move well clear of the Kiwis at 92.34 rankings points.
Fact of the Week: South Africa lead Australian two-one (with one draw) in Test matches played at Perth's Subiaco Oval, while the biggest winning margin between the two countries at this West Australian venue is the Wallabies' 30-26 victory in 2004. The Bok wins were 14-13 in 1998 (the year they first won the Tri-Nations) and 22-19 in 2005. They also drew 14-all in 2001.
Noteworthy stats - NZ v SA:
Possession: NZ 58 percent, SA 42 percent
Territory: NZ 66, SA 34
Line-outs: NZ top jumper = Boric 2 takes, SA top jumper = Matfield 7 takes
Rucks: NZ 115, SA 56
Hit-ups: NZ 93, SA 42
Tackles made: NZ 89, SA 205 (NZ top tacklers = Thompson 14, Boric 11; SA top tacklers = Burger 22, Steenkamp 18)
What do you think? Email us your suggestions and comments from the second weekend of Tri-Nations action!
