Injury rules Burger out of Tri-Nations

Schalk Burger in action for the Stormers against the Bulls in this year;s Super 14. Picture / Reuters

The Springboks' Tri-Nations hopes received a hammer blow today with the news that flanker Schalk Burger is likely to miss the entire tournament.

Burger was injured during the Boks' 29-15 defeat of Scotland at Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

The seriousness of the injury was not immediately apparent, but complications developed late on Saturday and on Sunday.

It is possible he could require an operation.

The Stormers and Western Province flanker took a heavy blow on the neck and as a result of the complications, he has been advised to avoid any rugby for an indefinite period.

It is possible he could require an operation to correct the problem, but a decision on that will be made only in the coming weeks.

The news will alarm Springbok coach Jake White, who is already struggling to cover the absence of Burger's fellow Stormers international Jean de Villiers, who is likely to be out for another month with a rib injury.

The immediate options for the coach in finding a replacement for Burger probably involve a backrow switch with Jacques Cronjé and possibly Pedrie Wannenburg involved.

But losing Burger is a colossal setback for White, not just for this Saturday's Test against France at Newlands, but more importantly, the Tri-Nations campaign, which kicks off against Australia in Brisbane next month.

The Bok management was due to make a formal announcement later today. Their chief concern at this stage, of course, is for Burger's long-term health and recovery.

No risks will be taken with that and it may well be that the powerful flanker won't be seen again in a Springbok jersey until the end-of-year tour to England and Ireland, although it is too early to pass definitive judgement on that score.

Burger's injury is the latest setback to White's Springboks as they attempt to build towards an important season going into next year's World Cup in France.

Centre Jean de Villiers is still injured, while another backline player, Jaque Fourie, is also out.

However, Burger's enforced absence is the most worrying one.

The 22-year-old is one of the team's most influential players and is a former IRB player of the year.

His neck injury raises doubts about his long-term future, because he plays in a position where he puts his body on the line in every match.

In searching for a replacement, White may be forced to look at the credentials of new Western Province captain Luke Watson, who he recently left out of his 43-man training squad in controversial circumstances.

- INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS (SOUTH AFRICA)