Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
It doesn’t get much bigger – Bok stars
Du Preez, Burger are fizzing for semi-final
LONDON: Two legends of Springbok rugby, Schalk Burger and Fourie du Preez, put today’s World Cup semifinal against the All Blacks into perspective when they agreed it was the biggest match of their 12- year international careers.
When asked if it was also the biggest match in Springbok rugby history, both called for caution on that account given that the teams have been playing each other regularly since the 1990s and, as Burger put it, “there (were) some enormous games along the way, with the 1995 World Cup final right up there”.
“But I would say it is the biggest game of my career, probably even more important than the 2007 World Cup final,” said Burger. “We never played the All Blacks in 2007 and if we can get past them in 2015 to make the final (against Australia or Argentina), it would mean so much, providing we then went on to win the final.”
Burger said the rivalry between the countries, dating back to 1921 when the first Test between them was played in Dunedin, was unique in rugby history.
“Growing up in South Africa, my father ( Schalk Burger snr) played against the (rebel) New Zealand Cavaliers in 1986, and I am certain that every other South African with an interest in rugby knows of the history between the countries and that is why I say this match must not be over-rated as ‘the biggest ever’, but rather as another opportunity for either side to write a new chapter in their respective histories.
“It would certainly be a famous Springbok win and while we want to be part of a memorable rugby spectacle, we more than anything want to just get over the line ahead of them and claim a place in the final,” Burger said. “They are a fantastic team, their record speaks for itself, but we want to do more than just contain them; we want to do something special and beat them.”
All Black coach Steve Hansen has said the Boks were hiding behind a public persona of loving the All Blacks when behind the scenes, they “just want to rip our heads off ”.
A smiling Burger said: “That has not been the case during the week, but by kick-off it might well have changed. We are proud of our physical game and obviously they are a little nervous about it. They play a contrasting style of rugby to us given their strike players out wide, but they also always get stuck in against us, so it has all the ingredients for a great game.”
Burger said the Boks had prepared for the match against their old foe as if it was any other.
“They back their skill set, so they put you under more pressure than any other team, so it is largely about our defence, about us slowing down their ball and not giving them turnovers, but games against them inevitably produce turnovers because they become loose affairs. We don’t want that to happen, but there will be turnovers and we’ve shown them that we can be just as deadly on the counter-attack.”