The two-way tussle between Schalk Burger and Warren Whiteley to replace or deputise for injured Springbok eighthman Duane Vermeulen enters round two at the Suncorp Stadium this Saturday.
As expected, Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer yesterday named Burger to start at eighthman in place of Whiteley for the opening Rugby Championship game against Australia.
Whiteley started in the 46-10 win over the World XV last Saturday and this weekend it is Burger’s turn to show Meyer that the void left by Vermeulen, who had surgery on his neck, can be narrowed.
The Stormers utility flanker has the edge over Whiteley on a number of fronts – 75 caps to two, three World Cup appearances to none – but how he fronts up against Scott Higginbotham or Ben McCalman will affirm Meyer’s opinion that he is best suited at the back of the scrum.
How do you compete against a man who cheated death?
“Warren didn’t do anything wrong but it was always the plan to give Burger a go at eight,” Meyer said.
“To have two great eights pushing for Duane’s position creates good competition among them and it is great to have.
“I think Schalk’s best position is eight and he has changed his whole game from when he was a youngster and was an out-and- out openside flanker, pushing hard at the breakdown.
“Now suddenly he has developed his game and added some brilliant touches to it. He is a very skilful player, yet he is still physical.
“I’m expecting a tough contest on the ground, where Australia tend to compete well, and with Schalk there it means we have an extra loose-forward that can contest on the floor.”
Meyer looked stern-faced throughout the team announcement, perhaps realising that the road to the World Cup has reached a point of no return and that each selection from here on will have direct ramifications.
The coach all but went for the same 23 that played last week, bar the inclusions of Burger in the starting XV and Heinke van der Merwe, Frans Malherbe, Lood de Jager and Lwazi Mvovo on the bench.
Last year an unforgivable error by Morne Steyn in Perth, when he failed to kick a penalty into touch and effectively end the game, was pounced upon by Wallabies and saw winger Rob Horne score the winning try.
This year fit-again Wallaby poacher David Pocock, the Boks’ boogeyman at the ruck, could be the difference as he was in the 2011 World Cup quarterfinal in Wellington.
Pocock is an artist at being a nuisance. In Super Rugby he added eight tries to his repertoire, all scored from the back of the Brumbies’ driving mall. This was on top of his 29 steals in the competition – the most by any player. He finds new ways to annoy and win.
“He is a quality player,” said Meyer of Pocock.
“Coming from Zimbabwe, maybe we should have moved in and gotten him to South Africa.
“I rate him. I think he is a great leader and whenever he plays he lifts teams. Pocock is a specialist opensider and he brings experience.
“What makes him great is that he can also carry the ball and he makes the right decisions.”
The Springboks beat the Wallabies handsomely the last time the two sides faced each other in Brisbane two years ago. Captain Jean de Villiers was unplayable that day.
The mace is now in the hands of Damian de Allende and debutant Jesse Kriel, to see if they can subdue Matt Giteau and Tevita Kuridrani in midfield.
“If you look at our record, we’ve not had many wins here,” said Meyer.
“Our 10-12-13 axis has inexperienced guys, so I wanted to give them a game under their belt, in a tough Test.”
Brace for Incredible Schalk
As expected, Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer yesterday named Burger to start at eighthman in place of Whiteley for the opening Rugby Championship game against Australia.
Whiteley started in the 46-10 win over the World XV last Saturday and this weekend it is Burger’s turn to show Meyer that the void left by Vermeulen, who had surgery on his neck, can be narrowed.
The Stormers utility flanker has the edge over Whiteley on a number of fronts – 75 caps to two, three World Cup appearances to none – but how he fronts up against Scott Higginbotham or Ben McCalman will affirm Meyer’s opinion that he is best suited at the back of the scrum.
How do you compete against a man who cheated death?
“Warren didn’t do anything wrong but it was always the plan to give Burger a go at eight,” Meyer said.
“To have two great eights pushing for Duane’s position creates good competition among them and it is great to have.
“I think Schalk’s best position is eight and he has changed his whole game from when he was a youngster and was an out-and- out openside flanker, pushing hard at the breakdown.
“Now suddenly he has developed his game and added some brilliant touches to it. He is a very skilful player, yet he is still physical.
“I’m expecting a tough contest on the ground, where Australia tend to compete well, and with Schalk there it means we have an extra loose-forward that can contest on the floor.”
Meyer looked stern-faced throughout the team announcement, perhaps realising that the road to the World Cup has reached a point of no return and that each selection from here on will have direct ramifications.
The coach all but went for the same 23 that played last week, bar the inclusions of Burger in the starting XV and Heinke van der Merwe, Frans Malherbe, Lood de Jager and Lwazi Mvovo on the bench.
Last year an unforgivable error by Morne Steyn in Perth, when he failed to kick a penalty into touch and effectively end the game, was pounced upon by Wallabies and saw winger Rob Horne score the winning try.
This year fit-again Wallaby poacher David Pocock, the Boks’ boogeyman at the ruck, could be the difference as he was in the 2011 World Cup quarterfinal in Wellington.
Pocock is an artist at being a nuisance. In Super Rugby he added eight tries to his repertoire, all scored from the back of the Brumbies’ driving mall. This was on top of his 29 steals in the competition – the most by any player. He finds new ways to annoy and win.
“He is a quality player,” said Meyer of Pocock.
“Coming from Zimbabwe, maybe we should have moved in and gotten him to South Africa.
“I rate him. I think he is a great leader and whenever he plays he lifts teams. Pocock is a specialist opensider and he brings experience.
“What makes him great is that he can also carry the ball and he makes the right decisions.”
The Springboks beat the Wallabies handsomely the last time the two sides faced each other in Brisbane two years ago. Captain Jean de Villiers was unplayable that day.
The mace is now in the hands of Damian de Allende and debutant Jesse Kriel, to see if they can subdue Matt Giteau and Tevita Kuridrani in midfield.
“If you look at our record, we’ve not had many wins here,” said Meyer.
“Our 10-12-13 axis has inexperienced guys, so I wanted to give them a game under their belt, in a tough Test.”
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