There is just no way that HM can contemplate overlooking Schalk Burger for this years RC and RWC in this sort of form.
Even his biggest critics would be hard pressed to find any reason to leave him out.
I would even go so far as to play him as an opensider if we have to play him and Coetzee.
I am a massive Marcell Coetzee fan. I see him as the leader of our loose trio for years to come, but right now Schalk is my man.
Lets forget about his pitbull style of play for 80 minutes...
Lets just think about what else he brings to the table..
Take a look at him in between plays.... motivating, giving "gees", pulling together... the man is an incredible team player and motivator and there is little more important than a man that can bring a team together when the chips are down. I'm not saying he'd be my 1st choice captain, but he has an aura about him that very few legends have.
Now back to his game play...
Clevermike is going to come with stats to try and prove me wrong...
But go back and watch the Stormers games, even when they have lost.
The man still stands out like a sore thumb.... bouncing from 1 ruck to another. His work rate is phenominal.
Look at his tackle ans assisted tackle count (@clevermike), his ball carries and his support play.
I know some people are going to come on and say that he is getting old.
Bollocks! How old is he? 32?? That really isnt too old now is it??
If you are good enough, you should be on the field. Form overpowers age in my books.
Yes, after the RWC, lets take stock and bring through some younger guns, but if you look back at every RWC since 95, the team that has had the leadership and experience on the field, tended to pull through the final.
Gregan, Back, Dallaglio, McCaw, Smit, Matfield.... just to name a few...
We now have Schalk, who would fit in to that category.
I see no reason why he should not be in our starting XV.
