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Hamilton – Schalk Burger is simply delighted to be back in the Springbok squad and is not concerned about the fact that he is being kept on the substitutes bench.
“It’s not even an issue,” said Burger.
Burger served a ban of 8 weeks prior to the overseas leg of South Africa’s Tri-Nations campaign for allegedly recklessly feeling around the eye-area of British and Irish Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald in the second test. It was found that it was not a deliberate act of eye-gouging.
Anybody who knows Burger will tell you there was no malicious intent, but he admits the video did not make for good viewing.
“It was not at all nice to look at the video. It did not look good,” he said.
He shakes his head at being reminded about the incident.
“I will just say that my 50th Test was far from ideal. It was not what I had dreamed of. You hope to celebrate such an occasion with a man of the match performance or a try. Being chased off the field is not part of the plan!”
Burger is no prima donna and does not mind bench duty. “It’s so nice to be back that I’m not complaining,” he said.
The eight weeks were also not a death sentence. “I kept on training with WP and improved my golf swing. And there was more time than usual to enjoy a glass of red wine,” he said.
He does not want to talk about match fitness. “I have not played for 80 minutes since being banned. We’ll see in the Currie Cup. But it’s still rugby. I have not forgotten how to play.”
GALLERIES:
- Captain's Run - Hamilton
- Bok's receive Cape welcome in Auckland
Hamilton – Schalk Burger is simply delighted to be back in the Springbok squad and is not concerned about the fact that he is being kept on the substitutes bench.
“It’s not even an issue,” said Burger.
Burger served a ban of 8 weeks prior to the overseas leg of South Africa’s Tri-Nations campaign for allegedly recklessly feeling around the eye-area of British and Irish Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald in the second test. It was found that it was not a deliberate act of eye-gouging.
Anybody who knows Burger will tell you there was no malicious intent, but he admits the video did not make for good viewing.
“It was not at all nice to look at the video. It did not look good,” he said.
He shakes his head at being reminded about the incident.
“I will just say that my 50th Test was far from ideal. It was not what I had dreamed of. You hope to celebrate such an occasion with a man of the match performance or a try. Being chased off the field is not part of the plan!”
Burger is no prima donna and does not mind bench duty. “It’s so nice to be back that I’m not complaining,” he said.
The eight weeks were also not a death sentence. “I kept on training with WP and improved my golf swing. And there was more time than usual to enjoy a glass of red wine,” he said.
He does not want to talk about match fitness. “I have not played for 80 minutes since being banned. We’ll see in the Currie Cup. But it’s still rugby. I have not forgotten how to play.”
GALLERIES:
- Captain's Run - Hamilton
- Bok's receive Cape welcome in Auckland
