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No pressure on ‘newbie’ Burger

PUBLISHED: September 26, 2013


He might have felt a bit like a debutant this past week, but there will be no additional pressure on Schalk Burger when he makes his comeback for DHL Western Province against the FS Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Friday night.

Burger has been out action for almost 18 months with knee and calf muscle problems, as well as suffering from bacterial meningitis earlier this year, and the influential loose forward is on the verge of making a remarkable playing return for the defending Absa Currie Cup champions.

But, despite all the hype surrounding his potential comeback – with Burger's selection on the WP bench having garnered plenty of fanfare and media coverage this past week – coach Allister Coetzee is not putting any unnecessary pressure on the World Cup-winning flanker.

“It's just good to have him back – he'll feel like a new player when he comes on to play,” admitted the DHL WP boss. “He's looked sharp at training, and there are bound to be a few timing issues, but we all look forward to seeing how he goes.”

And when asked about Burger's potential introduction from the bench at the Free State Stadium on Friday (with the game kicking-off at 17h05), Coetzee added: “We're not sure at what stage of the match he'll run out.

“I don't think Schalk will get more than 20 minutes, but it's all part of his comeback (introducing him from the bench) and we will see how we can use him and how he goes.

“We don't expect him to be at his best, but merely having him around the players brings out his positive influence (in those around him). In many ways it's just like a guy who hasn't ridden a bike for a while – you get back on and you know how to do it. (But) I really don't think it will be long before online casino we see the old Schalk back.”

Thirty-year-old Burger will wear the No.19 jersey in his comeback on Friday night, but spare a thought for 21-year-old Josh Katzen who will join him on the Western Province replacements bench (in jersey No.20).

Province Under-21 captain Katzen made his senior provincial debut just last weekend – the flanker impressing the coaching staff with a high-tempo five-minute cameo against Griquas, which saw him edge out U21 colleague Rayn Smid and the more experienced Rohan Kitshoff for a place on the bench this week.

It is also perhaps worth pointing out here that the selfsame Katzen was just 11 years old when Burger made his Test debut as a (then) 20-year-old at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

“It feels like I'm making my debut,” Burger told www.wprugby.com this week. “I'm just thankful to be back in the team and I look forward to hopefully making a contribution again to Western Province Rugby.”

A TALE OF TWO DHL WP REPLACEMENTS:

Name: Schalk Burger
Position: Flank
Height: 1,94m
Weight: 114kg
Born: April 13, 1983 – Port Elizabeth
DHL Western Province appearances: 32
DHL Stormers Super Rugby appearances: 88
Springbok Test caps: 68

Name: Josh Katzen
Position: Flank
Height: 1,81m
Weight: 97kg
Born: June 7, 1992 – Cape Town
DHL Western Province appearances: 1
DHL Stormers Super Rugby appearances: 0
Springbok Test caps: 0