Schalk focused on performance
Regular captain Jean de Villiers is still getting game time with Western Province in their Currie Cup preseason preparations, while Victor Matfield is nursing a fresh hamstring injury. Burger skippers the side for the first time – but the experienced campaigner said not much has changed in the build up to Saturday’s Test.
“It’s been exactly the same. Obviously I’m wearing the captain’s armband which is a massive priviledge and I’m looking forward to that. I think first and foremost the focus goes on the team and my own performance,” Burger said on Friday.
There is a lot of hype around tomorrow’s clash which is being played at Emirates Airlines Park. The memory of Joel Stanski’s World Cup winning drop goal at Ellis Park still haunts All Blacks fans and Burger said there was no need to psyche his teammates up for the clash considering the occasion and venue.
“We’ll try and keep it as calm as possible. In a week like this you don’t really any added motivation. The buzz around the hotel and within the team is good enough. So we’ll try and keep it as normal as possible and try and focus on our own game. At this stage of the week, enough has been said and done about the All Blacks and it’s about us getting our ducks in a row and putting in the best performance possible.”
Burger will operate at eighthman, while Heinrich Brussow makes his return to the Bok side at openside flank after four years in the national wilderness. Burger seemed excited to be running out with the Cheetahs flank and his old Stormers mate Francois Louw.
“Heinrich’s last test match was the quarterfinal in 2011 against Australia and I also played with him that game. I took a two and a bit year sabbatical and he took a four year sabbatical,” Burger joked.
“It’s great to have him back, he’s a good player. Let’s hope it goes well for him this weekend. We played against each other in Japan; he’s still a great player.”
The make-up of the loose trio effectively sees the Boks playing with two out-and-out openside flanks. Despite their style of play, Burger believes there is some balance in the selection.
“Traditionally their both openside flankers but both of them like to be involved in more facets than just fetching; they want to carry the ball and play. Flo (Francois Louw) and I have played together for ages coming from Stormers days so it’s quite natural and I’ve played with Heinrich for quite a few years at the Boks so I don’t think it will make a big difference. My role is at eighthman, so just take it as it is, keep your job simple and try and get as high as possible a work rate going.”
As for the occasion, Burger said his teammates need to step up to the challenge tomorrow – paying respect to the All Blacks’ Haka.
“I think every Test match there’s pressure, and every Test where it’s one versus two in the world, South Africa vs the All Blacks, it’s a great occasion and for us it’s to live up to that challenge.”
“The whole Haka is about them laying down a challenge to us. Our job is to not let them down we’ve got to accept the challenge and bring to the table what we’ve got as the Springboks.”
Kick-off is at 17h05 on Saturday.
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