Schalk back with Boks

Schalk Burger will join the contracted Springboks at their training camp in Johannesburg on Sunday.

The Bok flanker, who had a neck fusion operation in June, has been given the green light to start training again. He is also allowed to go back to gym.

“It’s unbelievable,” Burger told Rapport rugby writer Rudolph Lake. “I got the best possible news this week. My neck operation was a complete success and the vertebra is nearly 95% regrown. I can start training again and gym – I can do everything except contact training.”

Burger said he’d begun to work on his fitness as soon as he received the good news from his doctor.

“I almost had a heartattack I was so unfit!” he said. “But it was great to be doing something again.”



92 Comments

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  • 1.keepin_it_real: Reply to this comment

    hope schalkie can pull through!!!

  • 2.strikers: Reply to this comment

    YEAH!!!

    And we were forced to build some great backup in Spies so the worldcup is looking good again,

    With Smith, Burger, Joe and Bakkies all back in the bok lineup at the WC (provided there are no more injuries)

  • 3.BERNARD: Reply to this comment

    he will – he has natural talent

  • 4.Skim: Reply to this comment

    HALLELUJA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    The Incredible Schalck is BACK!!

  • 5.Skim: Reply to this comment

    1.98m
    105kg
    Wild mal in die kop
    Natural fetcher
    Line-out option

  • 6.Skim: Reply to this comment

    Wonder what Schalk thinks of Luke?

  • 7.AndyMcNabFAN: Reply to this comment

    Good news. Him and Spies will play well together.

  • 8.Skim: Reply to this comment

    Imagine:

    6.Schalk
    7.Juan
    8.Spies

  • 9.BERNARD: Reply to this comment

    u are talking striker – now it only can go beter – schalk ; bakkies ; joe ; smith ; jdv ; and spies that got good experience – oh man its going 2 b good

  • 10.Knersboy: Reply to this comment

    yeah Skim, hardcore. and then with a bit of competition maybe big joe will lift his game too.

  • 11.Ollie: Reply to this comment

    Skim,

    Rumour is that he doesn’t like the idea of Luke being the captain, and doesn’t particularly want to play under him.

  • 12.ziyaad: Reply to this comment

    schalk’s 193cm and 108kg’s actually. lets not get carried away, i think he should only be allowed to play 6 matches in the S14 next year… at most. in a dream situation, this would be the starting 22 for the WC

    1 J. Engels
    2 J. Smit (lets face it, he WILL start)
    3 CJ. vd Linde
    4 B. Botha
    5 V. Matfield
    6 S. Burger
    7 J. Smith
    8 P. Spies
    9 R. Pienaar
    10 A. Pretorious
    11 B. Habana (on FORM)
    12 J. d Villiers
    13 J. Fourie
    14 JP. Pieterson
    15 B. Fortuin (in wet weather) / G. Aplon (in dry weather)
    16 O. du Randt
    17 C. Ralapelle
    18 J. Muller
    19 L. Watson
    20 F. du Preez
    21 B. James
    22 B. Fortuin / G. Aplon

    Unlucky Wynand Olivier… his a quality player. I’ll also watch the progress of Philip Burger and Marius Delport, because they’re quality players. Kabama Floors might also be my reserve flank, because he adds another dimension to the attack. If Floors comes in, then Schalk Britz must come in as well. Imagine the flair in this team?? I’ve said many times before, until Aplon’s size is exposed, surely he’s good enough. judge a player by his performances, not his stats.

  • 13.wolfman2006: Reply to this comment

    i dont no how chilli boy is close to the bok setup without having played a game in months.

  • 14.Knersboy: Reply to this comment

    ziyaad, i would start with os (hopefully guthro is ready then too) but i also rate engels. also, i would have BJ in place of CJ.

    my biggest worry are the back 3. okay, habana is there but the other wing? also, i am a JP Pietersen supporter but maybe the oke is too young. only 20 ffs and fullback is a stressful position.

    fullbacks get better with age, i even remember that andre joubert was slated by many okes when he first became a bok, but after some time we all know what happened.

  • 15.wolfman2006: Reply to this comment

    i would also not have bevan close to the setup, if you want a similar player i would go for roets, and rossouw on the bench instead of muller, otherwise good team.

  • 16.Ig: Reply to this comment

    Don’t rush schalla back for the sake of the world cup.

  • 17.PissAnt: Reply to this comment

    Great news.

    Get well soon Schalla!

    6. Schalk
    7. Spies
    8. Juan (even teich’s thinks Juan will a brilliant 8)

  • 18.wolfman2006: Reply to this comment

    poor watsons star is fading fast!

  • 19.ziyaad: Reply to this comment

    remember the world cup is still half the currie cup, the end of the season tour, a full s14 and tri nations away. thats plenty of time to gain experience. ya sorry bj botha replaces cj vd linde. bevin’s only weakness may be his pace. he also add to the ‘quota’ we need on the field. fortuin is probably the most reliable fullback we have, and is extremely powerful on the run. Aplon, on the other hand, is flawless. except when he stands on a scale he weighs 10kg less than Percy. im so keen to see him play s14. remember this is priliminary. 14 months ago we didnt even know about guys like aplon, pieterson, bj botha (nt really), pierre spies, so new guys may yet come through

  • 20.sporto: Reply to this comment

    Best Of Luck to you big fella!

  • 21.Knersboy: Reply to this comment

    yeah ziyaad, as exciting as aplon is i will reserve judgement until he has played at a higher standard that cc. the thing is, if russel cant get into the bok team what chance does aplon have?

    i cant believe that **** doesnt play russel. ffs, **** wasnt the biggest in his day was he, surely he of all people should know that there is more to it than size.

  • 22.ziyaad: Reply to this comment

    we need 5 quota players i think. come to think about it, if JW is coach watson wont be there. so Kabama Floors can come in, with Danie Rossouw the reserve lock, because he double up as a flank. new team:

    1 O. Du Randt
    2 J. Smit
    3 BJ. Botha
    4 B. Botha
    5 V. Matfield
    6 S. Burger
    7 J. Smith
    8 P. Spies
    9 R. Pienaar
    10 A. Pretorious
    11 B. Habana
    12 J. d Villiers
    13 J. Fourie
    14 JP. Pieterson (played sa u21 there)
    15 G. Aplon

    16 J. Engels
    17 Chilliboy
    18 D. Rossouw
    19 K. Floors
    20 F. du Preez
    21 B. James
    22 B. Fortuin (or Brent Russell) since the quota has been satisfied)

    another to watch is Hilton Lobberts. he is young and will only improve over the next 12 months. the ndungane twins need speed training too.

  • 23.wolfman2006: Reply to this comment

    yeah, better team, although i still want to see chiliboy actually play a senior game.

    interesting that luke is no where…imagine a back three of paulse, russell and aplon, take on the aussie (previous) back three of tuqiri, sailor and latham! that would be interesting.

  • 24.RedLion!: Reply to this comment

    How is it that Schalk with a 95% healed neck even consider joining the Bok training squad?

  • 25.Wallabie: Reply to this comment

    The ‘incredible Hulk’ gotta admit you boys missed him! A damn fine player who is only sorely missed when he does not play a game.

  • 26.JH: Reply to this comment

    He needs 2 bolts in his neck and he will be known as Herman ‘Munster” Burger.

    Seriously he is awesome but will have to change his attack strategy at breakdowns/rucks. He just cannot go budgeoning in head first all the time coz he won’t last and the Boks cannot afford to lose him next year. He will need a special forwards coach team to increase or hone his skills in the rucks.

    Great to have him back, but i will be nervous for him in his first game!!!!

  • 27.ziyaad: Reply to this comment

    i reckon tuqiri isnt all that on defense. look how tom varndell stood him up in a 1 on 1. we keep coming back to size… ideally we would want 100kg wings who can sprint the 100 in 10seconds. oh, come to think about it, i do know someone who can do that. except his 17 and plays eightman. nick koster of bishops. i promise u, that name will define south african rugby in years to come. coming back to the point of giant wings, do we want Giscard Pieters and Dean Hall then? unfortunately for the time being we wont be able to provide a physically big back 3, but we could have a lighting quick, nimble back 3 that could create something outta nothing

  • 28.Wallabie: Reply to this comment

    23

    Sailor was rubbish and will always be rubbish in union. The reason is that he cannot score tries in close quarters, keep the game tight and Sailor goes AWOL. Sailor needs space to score tries!

  • 29.wolfman2006: Reply to this comment

    i am not suggesting that the wallaby back three would destroy the three little uns from the boks, but it would be an interesting experiment in size difference. sailor new found his true calling as a battering ram.

  • 30.klippies: Reply to this comment

    our boks r not big enough they look skinny next the aussies

  • 31.macdaddy: Reply to this comment

    king scalla back,vonderbaa!

  • 32.macdaddy: Reply to this comment

    (22) ziyaad,good team bro!

  • 33.ufo: Reply to this comment

    great news…

    I just hope it’s not too soon for Schalk. Jake must not be tempted to take him on the EOYT… let him recover completely before conatct training or playing..

    skim…

    That’s trio’s the real deal… can’t wait to see them play together…

  • 34.pieterman: Reply to this comment

    Moerse goeie nuus, dankie Vader!!!
    Maar vat dit stadig Klein Schalk. Jy is nog jonk.

    Groot Schalk, hou jou klong in toom asseblief, hy weet nie wat ‘bang’ beteken nie. Praat hom bang, asseblief.

  • 35.Pik Steal: Reply to this comment

    Schalk with 95% regrown vertebra joins camp. Another flank has 100% vertebra, only shorter. The Hulk is back and Joke must be having wet dreams!

  • 36.macdaddy: Reply to this comment

    skim,good trio boss but will joke buy into that idea? we hope

  • 37.Pik Steal: Reply to this comment

    Schalk is so large one can see his vertebra on Google Earth!

  • 38.macdaddy: Reply to this comment

    pieterman,i saw schalk jogging in the sreets around the newlands stadium early this week with his chick and the boy has beefed up big style!

    strange to think he is still only 22!

    look out world……

  • 39.macdaddy: Reply to this comment

    pik steal,hahaha nice one!

  • 40.Skim: Reply to this comment

    Of course Joky will buy it

    Spies = lineout option, moer vinnig, great skill
    Juan = Lineout option, moer hard, great skill
    Schalk = Schalk

  • 41.Skim: Reply to this comment

    For Jake who is obsessed with speed, size and strenght this is perfect.
    You won’t get a faster or bigger back row anywhere on this planet.

  • 42.pieterman: Reply to this comment

    Mac
    Keep him jogging at Newlands, no need for him to go on tour to Ireland/England this year and bust his neck again.. Let him recover properly.
    The boy knows no fear and I am worried about him. Dont’t rush him untill WC time.

  • 43.Pik Steal: Reply to this comment

    Luke must feel like the Rhodes Memorial, in the shade of Table Mountain, when he enters the presence of Schalk.

  • 44.Skim: Reply to this comment

    Spies:

    Speed 100m in 10.7s
    Height 195cm
    Weight 106kg

    Juan:

    Height 196cm
    Weight 104kg

    Schalk:

    Weight 106kg
    Height 193cm

  • 45.Skim: Reply to this comment

    Average height of about 195 cm
    together with Victor(200cm, 108kg) and Bakkies(201cm, 118kg) line-outs won’t be aproblem for us in the WC.

  • 46.pieterman: Reply to this comment

    44/45# Awesome bru!!!!!!!!!!

  • 47.Skim: Reply to this comment

    Kabamba Floors:
    175 cm
    88 kg

    Luke Watson:
    184 cm
    98 kg

    Jacques Botes:
    182cm
    98kg

    Ernst Joubert:
    188cm
    100kg

    Wickus van Heerden:
    196cm
    104kg

  • 48.Pik Steal: Reply to this comment

    Pieterman, Skim het ‘n liniaal, ‘n skaal en ‘n stop horlosie in die hande gekry.

  • 49.Skim: Reply to this comment

    The only guy Jake will look at besides the guys that are currently in the squad is Captain courageous mr Wickus Van Heerden.

  • 50.pieterman: Reply to this comment

    Only one man will make more money than Schalk and Pierre Spies over the next 5 years…Schalk’s surgeon!
    But who cares, he earned it by performing a miracle. It’s only money. Schalkie’s neck is a totally different matter, cannot be replaced.
    Good job doc!

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