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Barritt expects big things from new signing Burger

Cape Town - Saracens captain Brad Barritt hopes the arrival of former Springbok flank Schalk Burger will ease the workload on Billy Vunipola and Maro Itoje in the coming season.

Burger is one of a few big name signings in the Premiership this season. The South African loose forward will likely end his career at the current English and European champions.

Vunipola and Itoje will be vital players for England during the internationals in November as well the Six Nations early next year. Both also have an outstanding chance of being picked for the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand next year, so Burger's presence at Saracens could help lessen their workload over the course of the season.

"The great thing about Schalk is that he is a fantastic all-rounder. Not only is he a dynamic ball carrier, he has great hands and is a huge defender. He is really looking forward to playing with the guys and we will all feed off his energy," Barritt told the Evening Standard.

He also dismissed the view that Burger only joined Saracens for one last pay day before retiring from the game. 

"He is as competitive as anyone and when Schalk steps onto a rugby pitch he is going to give 100 percent commitment. He is a world-class player," Barritt said.

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