1. Gulf News | Saturday, September 19, 2015 | gulfnews.comgulfnews.com | Saturday, September 19, 2015 | Gulf News
C5C4 RUGBY WORLD CUP RUGBY WORLD CUP
Defying death in pursuit of glory
SOUTH AFRICA FLANKER BURGER REFLECTS ON HIS RECOVERY FROM LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS
ABU DHABI
‘W
hen the pres-
sure is on and
our backs are
to the wall,
more often
than not South Africans will
deliver.”
South Africa flanker Schalk
Burger’s rousing words about
the Springboks’ warrior spirit
in adversity might as well have
been a reference to his own he-
roic comeback from the cusp of
oblivion.
For, in June 2013, Burger
faced a battle even more fe-
rocious than that of the 2007
World Cup final he won with
his country — he was fighting
for his life.
After experiencing spasms in
his left calf while preparing for
the Super Rugby season, a back
scan revealed a cyst impacting
on the nerve next to his spinal
cord.
An operation followed, but
complications ensued when a
hospital bug resulted in Burger
contracting bacterial meningi-
tis.
His condition worsened to
the extent that he was put in in-
tensive care and death stalked
him relentlessly as he lost 30
kilograms from his gigantic 6ft
4in, 120kg frame.
In an interview with Gulf
News ahead of the Rugby World
Cup, which started yesterday,
Burger said: “There was a criti-
cal stage for nearly five days in
which there was a lot of uncer-
tainty. I was in isolation and I
was seriously ill. So ill, in fact,
that some people around me
thought ‘this is it’.”
His situation was so criti-
cal that Burger’s parents were
called to the hospital to bid
their farewells.
“I was on my way out,”
Burger, who played a key part
in South Africa’s 2007 World
Cup triumph in France and
2009 Test series victory over
the British and Irish Lions, add-
ed. “I was conscious of it. But I
was literally just fighting from
heartbeat to heartbeat. And
every heartbeat felt like a knife
stabbing in my brain.
“Sometimes I felt like just
stopping, but I could literally
feel myself then slipping and
would have to fight again. I saw
it as a fight that I had to win.
“At that stage, there was a
lot of confusion, and I think a
lot of my motivation to survive
was driven by anger. I was also
newly married and my young-
est son [Nicol] was six months
old, so that gives you added
motivation to fight and battle
through.”
Force of will
Through sheer force of will,
Burger miraculously survived,
after six weeks in hospital and
a further eight recovering at
home.
Unsurprisingly, rugby at this
stage “wasn’t an option”, the
32-year-old said.
But, as his rehabilitation
progressed, his lifelong passion
soon became a central focus
and driving force.
Convincing his wife Michele
that he was fit to return to
competitive action was not a
straightforward matter, how-
ever.
Burger said: “I put her under
a lot of pressure. We had just
married and had a six-month-
old baby. I nearly passed away
on her, so it was a big thing for
her to get over that big mental
hurdle for her and her family.
“I convinced her, as hus-
bands always do, and thank-
fully she said ‘yes’ and it’s good
to be back playing rugby.”
The indomitable Burger
made his remarkable return for
club side Western Province in
late September 2013 and, sev-
en months later, he played his
100th game for his Super Rugby
outfit the DHL Stormers.
Then, even more momen-
tously in June 2014, he was
named in the South Africa
squad for the Tests against
Wales and Scotland.
These were the two-time
South Africa player of the year’s
first appearances for his coun-
try since the 2011 World Cup.
It’s not surprising, therefore,
that with his career approach-
ing its end and in view of his
tribulations, Burger is deter-
mined to savour every cap for
his country.
Burger, who in April won the
Comeback of the Year award at
sport’s equivalent of the Os-
cars, the Laureus World Sports
Awards in Shanghai, China,
said: “I have a different per-
spective on rugby now than,
say, when I was 28 years old,
and I am really enjoying it. This
will probably be the last one
[World Cup] I will play at.”
With its stratospheric lev-
els of passion for rugby only
matched by New Zealand,
South Africa face immense ex-
pectation from their demand-
ing public to deliver a third
global success after 1995 and
2007.
Rising to the occasion
Burger is confident he and
his teammates can rise to the
occasion again. The Springboks
are expected to top Pool B ahead
of Scotland, Samoa, Japan and
the United States ahead of the
knockout phase, where they
traditionally thrive.
The 2004 International
Rugby Board (IRB) player of
the year, whose team get their
2015 RWC campaign under way
against Japan today, said: “Un-
der pressure when we have to
deliver, we do deliver. The 2007
World Cup is a prime example.
“We weren’t playing too
well, but we put our minds to it
that we were going to win the
World Cup.
“When the pressure is on and
our backs are to the wall, more
often than not South Africans
will deliver. Rugby is in our cul-
ture. We’re a rugby-playing na-
tion and a lot of women under-
stand rugby better than I do.”
South Africa’s game is
primarily built on hulk-
ing forwards such as Burger
securing territory and a met-
ronomic goal-kicker punish-
ing opponents’ indiscretions,
but the blonde-locked enforcer
says they have become more
versatile in recent years.
The South Africa powerhouse
said: “Obviously we know what
our strengths are. We’re all big
blokes and we play a pretty con-
frontational style of rugby, but I
think over the years we have re-
fined that and got better.”
With several survivors of the
2007 triumph in their ranks,
such as lock Victor Matfield and
winger Bryan Habana, Burger
says South Africa’s experience
and shrewd game management
under the cosh will be vital.
He said: “The real acid
test comes from the knock-
out games. To be honest, the
knockout games I’ve been in-
volved in, pretty much it’s the
result that matters.
Thriving under pressure
“Some quarter-finals have
been magnificent, with one
team being under pressure and
having to fight their way back
out of it. But preferably when
you get to a knockout game,
you want to be in control of it.”
Burger said there are “plenty
of challengers” for this year’s
“pretty open” tournament,
which he believes defending
champions New Zealand enter
as favourites.
However, England’s home
advantage could be of “mas-
sive” importance in this year’s
event, he added.
Burger, who has scored 14
tries in 79 appearances for
South Africa since his debut in
2003, said: “I think they have
to use it. At the recent cricket
World Cup [in February and
March], look at how New Zea-
land used it to their advantage.
“It wasn’t at all a negative.
They played all the games ex-
cept the final at home and they
were absolutely dominant.
“England, if they can take a
leaf out of that book and ride
that wave, you end up playing
above yourself.”
Stuart Lancaster’s men
would do well to listen to Burg-
er’s salutary advice, given that
he has already conquered the
world once and his greatest op-
ponent — his own body.
By Euan Reedie
ChiefSportsWriter,AbuDhabi
ABU DHABI
I
njury-ridden South Africa captain Jean De Villiers has
pledged his side will “never give up” as he eyes his “final
shot” at World Cup glory.
De Villiers is the living embodiment of a never-say-die
attitude, having bounced back from having three successive
World Cups cruelly blighted by physical ordeals.
In 2003, he injured his shoulder in a final warm-up game,
forcing him to miss the entire tournament in Australia.
Four years after his 2003 heartache, the centre’s injury
curse struck again when a torn bicep in the Springboks’
opening game against Samoa ruled him out of his side’s
eventual 2007 World Cup triumph.
Then, four years ago, the ill-fated De Villiers was a frus-
trated onlooker as South Africa crashed out in the quarter-
finals in New Zealand after popping a rib in the group open-
er with Wales.
A fractured jaw in the Springboks’ 37-25 defeat to Argen-
tina in the Rugby Championship threatened to rule him out
of 2015 World Cup contention, but the remarkably resilient
De Villiers has recovered once again.
Not giving up
Speaking in Johannesburg before his team left for the
tournament that began in England yesterday, the 34-year-
old said: “We will never give up.”
Expanding on this rallying cry in an exclusive interview
with Gulf News, he added: “This is my final shot at playing
at a World Cup. Just getting back on to a rugby field was a
massive driving force.
“I am hoping to finish off my career on a high and be part
of this one.”
Also spurring De Villiers on is his profound love of the
Springboks jersey and voracious desire to help unite a coun-
try riven by apartheid between 1948 and 1994.
“I am living my dream,” he said, in his role as an ambas-
sador for this year’s Laureus World Sports Awards, which
took place in April.
“Once you play for the Springboks, you actually realise
what it means to the country. Rugby has played an integral
part in the development of South Africa, the unifying of the
nation.
“It’s become a tool where it brings people together and
gives them a common goal, where people can be part of
what the Springboks stand for.”
This is my final shot at
crown, De Villiers says
By Euan Reedie
Chief Sports Writer — Abu Dhabi
GOING FOR IT
FACTFILE
■■ Full name: Schalk Willem Petrus
Burger Junior
■■ Date of birth: April 13, 1983 (Age 32)
■■ Place of birth: Port Elizabeth, South
Africa
■■ Height: 1.93m (6ft 4in)
■■ Weight: 114kg (17st 13lb)
■■ Caps: 79
■■ Points: 70
Rex features
‘I was on my way out’
■■ South Africa’s Schalk Burger competes with England’s Courtney Lawes at the lineout
during a match at Twickenham in London last year. This was after he miraculously survived a
life-threatening illness, spending six weeks in hospital and a further eight recovering at home.
●
Burger is confident he and his teammates can
rise to the occasion again. The Springboks are
expected to top Pool B ahead of Scotland, Sa-
moa, Japan and the United States ahead of the
knockout phase, where they traditionally thrive.
Back to front
Schalk Burger with his
Comeback of the Year
award at the 2015 Laureus
World Sports Awards.
Rex Features
France coach out to prove his critics wrong
LONDON
P
hilippe Saint-Andre has just
weeks remaining as France
rugby coach, but he hopes
the moment he can say ‘I told
you so’ to his many critics is im-
minent as they embark on their
World Cup campaign against
Italy today.
The 48-year-old former Les
Bleus captain believes he can
mount a serious challenge to
land France their first World Cup
and sends his troops into battle
at Twickenham against an Italy
side deprived of their one world
class player, inspirational captain
Sergio Parisse.
Anything but a convincing
victory over the Italians will be
considered yet another below
par performance and hardly
build confidence that they can
beat Pool D favourites Six Na-
tions champions Ireland, a side
that Saint-Andre has yet to get
the better of in four meetings.
Saint-Andre — who will be
replaced by Guy Noves after the
final whistle has been blown on
their tournament — is only with-
out injured star centre Wesley
Fofanaforthematchandhastried
to ease the pressure on his players
by telling them to go out and en-
joy themselves. “I have lined up
my best team at the moment, the
most in form,” said Saint-Andre,
who comes into the game on the
back of a rare pair of successive
wins in their warm-up games
against England and Scotland.
“We have been preparing for
this since July 6 and the players
are really champing at the bit to
get going.
“I feel that they are in a good
place. But what I have told them
is it is crucial not to play the
game inside their heads before it
takes place on Saturday.
“What is important is that the
players don’t put too much pres-
sure on themselves.
Just a match
“That they run out onto the
pitch with a smile on their faces.
It is a match of rugby with a lot of
extrasthrownin.Morespectators,
more pressure, more press. But it
remains just a rugby match.”
Saint-Andre has been criti-
cised for not sticking with a
regular half-back partnership
throughout his reign, but belat-
edly he appears to have fixed
that as he lines up Toulon duo,
the mercurial veteran Frederic
Michalak and scrum-half Se-
bastien Tillous-Borde, for the
third successive match.
Saint-Andre’s woes pale in
comparison to those of his com-
patriot and Italy coach Jacques
Brunel, who aside from losing
Parisse for the match — he has
not yet recovered sufficiently
from an operation last week —
has been assailed by former Italy
player Mirco Bergamasco over
losing the dressing-room.
“He has failed to create a
group,bothonandoffthepitch,”
said Bergamasco earlier this
week. “He usually only refers to
four or five players and forgets
the rest. And that’s not enough
when there are 31 [players].”
— AFP
Departing Saint-Andre
puts out strong team
for opening match
against troubled Italy
BRIGHTON
F
ast-greying locks are
a tell-tale sign of the
stress South Africa
coach Heyneke Meyer has
suffered ahead of the Rugby
World Cup Pool B opener
against Japan in Brighton
today.
Poor warm-up results, a
horrendous injury list and
allegations of racial bias
toward white players have
dogged the 47-year-old
during the build-up to the
global showcase.
A less-than-spectacular
send-off from Johannes-
burg last weekend reflected
a public hoping for the best
in England, but unsure
whether the Springboks can
conquer the world a record
third time.
The last few months have
been deeply frustrating for
Meyer, who was born in
north-east city Nelspruit, a
one-hour drive from the fa-
mous Kruger National Park.
He is a meticulous man
and injuries to key players,
including skipper and cen-
tre Jean de Villiers, scrum-
half Fourie du Preez and No.
8 Duane Vermeulen, have
disrupted preparations.
After narrow losses away
to Australia and at home to
New Zealand in the 2015
Rugby Championship, Mey-
er watched the Springboks
suffer a stunning defeat by
Argentina in Durban.
Tactical kicking
The coach opted for a dra-
matic change of course one
week later, putting more em-
phasis on tactical kicking in
Argentina, and a measure of
respect was restored through
a convincing victory.
Patrick Lambie replaced
Handre Pollard at fly-half
for Buenos Aires and it is
the former who will start
against the Japanese ‘Brave
Blossoms’ at the home of
English second-tier football
club Brighton.
Meyer created a pro-
vincial colossus out of the
Pretoria-based Blue Bulls a
decade ago through a pre-
dominantly kicking game
and former Springbok
coach Nick Mallett expects
more of that from South Af-
rica at the World Cup.
“It will be a tactical game,
which is basically a kicking
game,” said the SuperSport
TV analyst, who took the
Springboks to third at the
1999 World Cup.
— AFP
Stress tells
on South
Africa’s
Meyer
Old adversaries Cudmore,
O’Connell set to face off
IRISH AND CANADIAN CAPTAINS RESPECT EACH OTHER DESPITE 2008 INCIDENT
CARDIFF
V
eteran Canadian
lock Jamie Cudmore
has “form” with
Irish enforcer Paul
O’Connell, but both
skippers for this weekend’s
World Cup Pool D opener insist
that what happens on the pitch
stays there.
Cudmore was involved
in an infamous scuffle with
O’Connell during a 2008 Euro-
pean Cup match between Cler-
mont and Munster at the lat-
ter’s Thomond Park.
The Irishman’s head shot
backwards from a vicious up-
percut from the Canadian af-
ter a ruck. All handbags were
dispensed of, the two towering
men collapsing to the floor in a
feast of flying fists that harked
back to the days of rugby that
didn’t have television replays to
sort out offenders.
Ironically, current Ireland
coach Joe Schmidt was on the
touchline that day in the col-
ours of Clermont, where he
was assistant to now-Scotland
coach Vern Cotter.
“Jamie got the worst conse-
quence, a red card and suspen-
sion. Paul got a yellow and got
back on there,” Schmidt remi-
nisced with a wry grin.
While O’Connell’s career has
been relatively free of discipli-
nary action, Cudmore’s is an-
other story.
He joined Clermont from
Grenoble in 2005 with a fear-
some reputation after accruing
eight yellow cards in 21 match-
es in the 2004/5 season for the
Alps team.
The Canadian, who spent
time in a partially misspent
youth in a juvenile detention
centre in his homeland, has
served months’ worth of sus-
pensions in the no-nonsense
Top 14, mainly for violent
play, but is seemingly now on
the straight and narrow as he
reaches the climax of his ca-
reer, aged 37.
Reining himself in
Indeed, in the last two sea-
sons for Clermont, Cudmore
received just three yellow cards
in 40 matches, and his most re-
cent red card dates back to the
2009/10 season.
“If you don’t know Jamie
very well, you’d see him as a
little bit of a reckless charac-
ter,” Schmidt said with no little
hint of irony.
“But he’d be one of the nic-
est guys you could meet. If you
needed someone in Clermont
to do something extra, certain-
ly any charitable event or any
community service, Jamie was
fantastic.
“I’d have a lot of time for him
as a character. He manages to
embody a lot of the values of
rugby, particularly the amateur
values, a couple of the amateur
habits as well, but I think he’s
curbed those and I certainly
haven’t seen him suspended
too many times since 2008!”
O’Connell, like Cudmore
appearing in his fourth World
Cup, called the Squamish na-
tive a “terrific player”.
“The biggest testament to
him is to be in a club like Cler-
mont, one of the most consist-
ent teams in Europe for the last
seven, eight, nine years and
they can pick up the best play-
ers in the world, but he consist-
ently commands a place in that
team,” the Irish lock said.
“He seems to get better with
age. He’s a big hitter in eve-
rything he does, not just the
tackle but in the carry and
the breakdown, and he’s a big
scrummager as well.
Tough battle on the cards
“Clermont have an excellent
lineout and set-piece as well,
so he’ll bring all that nous to
Canada.
“Hopefully it’ll be a real
tough battle — I’ve no doubt
about it.”
Speaking to Rugby World
magazine, Cudmore was equally
gushing in praise of O’Connell,
saying: “He’s a quality player
and a pure rugby man.
“What happens on the field
is full-on and afterwards we’ll
have a chat and a laugh, some-
thing I really appreciate.”
Schmidt said he knew what
he wanted from Cudmore when
his team play Canada at Car-
diff’s Millennium Stadium to-
day.
“I just hope he gets tired and
decides to leave the field on his
own volition. But I can’t see
that happening,” he joked.
No matter what the result,
Cudmore can rest easy.
Canada are also due to play
France in Pool D and Cudmore
will still have time for mischief,
admitting he might try “a cou-
ple of cheeky rib shots” on his
Clermont teammates.
— AFP
AFP
Best foot forward
■■ Canada’s lock and captain Jamie Cudmore stretches during a training session at Swansea
University ahead of his side’s opening match against Ireland in Cardiff today.
Today’s matches
GEORGIAVSTONGA
Pool C at Kingsholm,
Gloucester, 3pm UAE
Georgia
Merab Kvirikashvili; Tamaz Mchedlidze,
Davit Kacharava,Merab Sharikadze,
Giorgi Aptsiauri; Lasha Malaguradze,
Vasil Lobzhanidze; Mamuka Gorgodze
(capt),Viktor Kolelishvili,GiorgiTkhilai
shvili;Konstantine Mikautadze,Giorgi
Nemsadze; Davit Zirakashvili,Jaba
Bregvadze,Mikheil Nariashvili
Replacements: Shalva Mamukash-
vili,Karlen Asieshvili,Levan Chilachava,
Levan Datunashvili,Shalva Sutiashvili,
Giorgi Begadze,Giorgi Pruidze,Muraz
Giorgadze
Tonga
Vungakoto Lilo; Telusa Veainu,Will
Helu,Siale Piutau,Fetu’u Vainikolo;
Kurt Morath,Sonatane Takulua; Viliami
Ma’afu,Nili Latu (capt),Sione
Kalamafoni; Sitiveni Mafi,Tukulua
Lokotui; Halani ‘Aulika,Elvis Taione,
Tevita Mailau
Replacements: Paula Ngauamo,
Sona Taumalolo,Sila Puafisi,Hale
T Pole,Jack Ram,Samisoni Fisilau,
Latiume Fosita
IRELANDVS CANADA
Pool D at Millennium Stadium,
Cardiff, 5.30pm UAE
Ireland
Rob Kearney; David Kearney,Jared
Payne,Luke Fitzgerald,Keith Earls;
Jonathan Sexton,Conor Murray; Jamie
Heaslip,Sean O’Brien,Peter O’Mahony;
Paul O’Connell (capt),Iain Henderson;
Mike Ross,Rory Best,Jack McGrath
Replacements: Sean Cronin,Cian
Healy,Nathan White,Donnacha Ryan,
Chris Henry,Eoin Reddan,Ian Madigan,
Simon Zebo
Canada
Matt Evans; Jeff Hassler,Ciaran Hearn,
Nick Blevins,DTH Van Der Merwe;
Nathan Hirayama,Gordon McRorie;
Aaron Carpenter,John Moonlight,Kyle
Gilmour; Jamie Cudmore (capt),Brett
Beukeboom; Doug Wooldridge,Ray
Barkwill,Hubery Buydens
Replacements: Benoit Piffero,Djus-
tics Sears-Duru,Andrew Tiedemann,
Jebb Sinclair,Richard Thorpe,Phil
Mack,Liam Underwood,ConorTrainor
FRANCEVS ITALY
Pool D at Twickenham,
London, 8pm UAE
France
Scott Spedding; Yoann Huget,Mathieu
Bastareaud,Alexandre Dumoulin,Noa
Nakaitaci; Frederic Michalak,Sebast-
ien Tillous-Borde; Louis Picamoles,
Damien Chouly,Thierry Dusautoir
(capt); Pascal Pape,Yoann Maestri;
Rabah Slimani,Guilhem Guirado,Eddy
Ben Arous
Replacements: Benjamin Kayser,
Vincent Debaty,Nicolas Mas,Bernard
Le Roux,Alexandre Flanquart,Morgan
Parra,Remi Tales,Gael Fickou
Italy
Luke McLean; Leonardo Sarto,Michele
Campagnaro,Andrea Masi,Giovanbat-
tista Venditti; Tommaso Allan,Edoardo
Gori; Samuela Vunisa,Francesco
Minto,Alessandro Zanni; Josh Furno,
Quintin Geldenhuys; Martin Castro-
giovanni,Leonardo Ghiraldini (capt),
Matias Aguero
Replacements: Andrea Manici,
Michele Rizzo,Lorenzo Cittadini,Vale-
rio Bernabo,Simone Favaro,Guglielmo
Palazzani,Carlo Canna,Enrico Bacchin
JAPANVS SOUTHAFRICA
Pool B at Community Stadium,
Brighton, 11pm UAE
Japan
Ayumu Goromaru; Akihito Yamada,
Male Sau,Craig Wing,Kotaro Matsu-
shima; Kosei Ono,Fumiaki Tanaka;
Hendrik Tui,Michael Broadhurst,Mi-
chael Leitch (capt); Hitoshi Ono,Luke
Thompson; Kensuke Hatakeyama,
Shota Horie,Masataka Mikami
Replacements: Takeshi Kazu,
Keita Inagaki,Hiroshi Yamashita,
Shinya Makabe,Amanaki Mafi,Atsushi
Hiwasa,Harumichi Tatekawa,Karne
Hesketh
SouthAfrica
Zane Kirchner; Lwazi Mvovo,Jesse
Kriel,Jean De Villiers (capt),Bryan
Habana; Pat Lambie,Ruan Pienaar;
Schalk Burger,Willem Alberts,Francois
Louw; Victor Matfield,Lodewyk De
Jager; Jannie Du Plessis,Bismarck Du
Plessis,Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: Adriaan Strauss,
Trevor Nyakane,Coenie Oosthuizen,
Pieter-Steph Du Toit,Siya Kolisi,Fourie
Du Preez,Handre Pollard,JP Pietersen
— Live telecasts on OSN Sports
RugbyWorld Cup HD
TEAMS
AFP
Philippe Saint Andre