Burger starts for boks

Schalk Burger will complete his full comeback from a lengthy absence when he returns to the springbok startling lineup for Saturday’s test against Scotland, in Port Elizabeth.

The forward battled bacterial meningitis last year and he admits that the thought of playing rugby was far from his mind at that time.

“I was in a bit of strife then so being back here you enjoy every moment. Once the Springbok jersey has been taken away from you, you realise how much you’ve missed it,” Burger said.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to work my way back up here and I am enjoying every single moment.”

The 31-year-old, who has been used as a substitute during the incoming tests, will now return to the Bok starting line-up for the first time since the 2011 Rugby World Cup, replacing the injured Willem Alberts, and coach Heyneke Meyer believes he will be able to slot into the team comfortably.

“The great thing about Schalk is he can play six, seven and eight. I still think eight is his best position going forward and Duane has been playing a lot of rugby there as well,” Meyer said.

“He is not a true ball carrier like Willem but he adds different things to the side – his last few games were awesome.

“He’s got brilliant touches with the ball, almost like a flyhalf distributing, so I don’t want him to play like Willem, I want him to play like Schalk.”