Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has said on Monday that he will not be guarding fit-again flank Schalk Burger from injury now that he has made his full return to competitive rugby.
Following Burger's much-anticipated return to action in WP's 29-27 win over the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, Coetzee says that he only intends to give Burger as much game time as possible.
Burger has spent 18 months on the sidelines through injury and his fitness will be scrutinised in the following weeks as he seeks to regain the form which arguably made him one of the best loose forwards in world rugby.
"We’re not going to wrap Schalk in cotton wool - we’re going to go all out with him," Coetzee said on Rugby365's website.
"I believe in his ability and he showed on Friday that despite his long lay-off, he can play at the required intensity for 20 minutes.
"He huffed and puffed at the end of the game but he came through well.
"We know it’s important to manage him, but if we never play him or only play him for 20 minutes, he’s never going to get back to full match fitness.
"Our thinking is sooner rather than later.”
WP tackle the Golden Lions at Newlands on Friday, knowing that by simply avoiding defeat, they will be assured a home semi-final.
Following Burger's much-anticipated return to action in WP's 29-27 win over the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, Coetzee says that he only intends to give Burger as much game time as possible.
Burger has spent 18 months on the sidelines through injury and his fitness will be scrutinised in the following weeks as he seeks to regain the form which arguably made him one of the best loose forwards in world rugby.
"We’re not going to wrap Schalk in cotton wool - we’re going to go all out with him," Coetzee said on Rugby365's website.
"I believe in his ability and he showed on Friday that despite his long lay-off, he can play at the required intensity for 20 minutes.
"He huffed and puffed at the end of the game but he came through well.
"We know it’s important to manage him, but if we never play him or only play him for 20 minutes, he’s never going to get back to full match fitness.
"Our thinking is sooner rather than later.”
WP tackle the Golden Lions at Newlands on Friday, knowing that by simply avoiding defeat, they will be assured a home semi-final.
