Schalk Burger reflects on his actions from the sin bin

Perhaps not as big a winning margin as I expected, but a win non the less. South Africa managed to wrap up the series with the 2nd Test match win at Loftus on Saturday. Much like the game between the B&I Lions VS the Emerging Springboks, the B&I Lions took an early lead, and lead most the way through the test match. I felt the Springboks showed great composure to come from behind to secure the win. That is the sign of a great team.

The match was at times marred by negativity. Both teams giving each other a go in trying to force their dominance. Perhaps the worst of this being Schalk Burger’s sin binning, 32 seconds into his 50th test match, for careless use of fingers in the eye area of B&I Lions #11, Like Fitzgerald. Burger has been cited for the incident in accordance with IRB Law 10.4 (l) which states: 

Acts contrary to good sportsmanship.

“A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship in the playing enclosure.”

I have seen the replay of this a number of times and I must say the incident still baffles me. Why would Schalk do that? He is a senior Springbok. It was his 50th test match. He knows the consequences. It was right in front of the touch judge and camera crew. The list goes on…

The incident unfortunately does look clearly malicious on the replay, expect atleast a 6 week ban.

I felt referee Christophe Berdos missed quite a number of things during the game. The B&I Lions continually came off scott-free for infringements at the breakdown and were often quite offsides at the breakdown (see replay below). Most notably Brian O’Driscoll’s offsides, high, swinging arm tackle on Dannie Rossouw, resulting in the players concussion, effectively ending his tour. Bakkies Botha has also been cited, which seems a bit one sided, as Andrew Sheridan was also involved in alot of off-the-ball incidents.

Another gripe of mine with the Christophe Berdos is that he struggles to communicate with the players and officials. Maybe not the most politically correct subject, but I just feel that a referee at international level should be able to adequately communicate with everyone involved. We saw last week that a lack of communication between Cristophe Berdos and then referee Bryce Lawrence almost cost the Springboks dearly. Luckily Bryce Lawrence had his wits about him and over-ruled TMO Christophe Berdos.

Adi Jacobs was shown up yet again. He went from the best Springbok backline player last year, to this years worst so far. I felt PDV made the wrong decision in replacing Jean De Villiers. Adrian Jacobs should have been replaced by Jacques Fourie, who showed great strength and skill in going over for his try in the 75th minute of the game. Jacobs was not only shown up in defence, but also runs Habana dead in attack with his far too lateral running. One has to feel that PDV wont be able to justify Jacob’s selection in next weeks final test match.

I felt PDV got his tactics wrong again regarding the bench. The Springboks battled at the breakdown for most of the game. Schalk Burger should have been replaced by Heinrich Brussouw straight after his yellow card, as he wouldn’t have been able to take any chances at the breakdown, in-case a second yellow card was handed out. Once the scrums went uncontested, either Bismark Du Plessis or Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira should have been replaced by Danie Rossouw, as no specialist front row was needed.

Lets take a look at a few of the key moments:

1st Half:

• 1st min: An offside penalty against the B&I Lions is turned over for Schalk Burger eye gauging B&I Lions #11 Luke Fitzgerald. Burger is sin binned and later cited.
• 2nd min: Springbok #9 Fourie Du Preez is penalised for being offsides.
• 4th min: A scuffle erupts on the field. Brian O’Driscoll clearly throws a punch. Brian O’Driscoll and Juan Smith are cautioned.
• 5th min: Ruan Pienaar doesn’t find touch with his kick.
• 5th min: Jean De Villiers shouldn’t be making clearance kicks.
• 7th min: B&I Lions score the 1st try. Brian Habana didn’t even attempt a tackle. Francois Steyn did the right thing by marking the outside man, cover defence arrived too late.
• 9th min: Luke Fitzgerald’s kick is charged down.
• 9th min: South Africa poach the lineout ball.
• 10th min: Adrian Jacobs breaks the line, nobody is running off his shoulder, B&I Lions turn the ball over.
• 12th min: Springbok winger, JP Pietersen runs a beautiful line to go over for the Springbok’s 1st try.
• 15th min: Bismark Du Plessis is called offsides, resulting in 3 points against the Springboks.
• 17th min: Fourie Du Preez puts through a perfect cross kick to JP Pietersen. Pietersen kicks through. Francois Steyn carries the B&I Lions player back over his own line, resulting in a 5m scrum to the Springboks.
• 17th min: Bismark Du Plessis is tag teamed in the scrum, resulting in a penalty to the B&I Lions.
• 22nd min: Intercept king, Brian Habana almost comes away with it, he is held before receiving the ball though. No penalty is awarded.
• 25th min: JP Pietersen is penalised for a marginal late charge.
• 31st min: Brian O’Driscoll goes straight down at the ruck, JP Pietersen is penalised instead for coming from the side.
• 34th min: Pierre Spies makes a vital tackle.
• 36th min: B&I Lions #10, Stephen Jones puts over a drop-goal.
• 37th min: Brian Habana tackles man and ball.
• 40th min: B&I Lions are penalised for crossing.
• 40th min: Francois Steyn slots a 55m penalty.

2nd Half:

•  44th min: Adrian Jacobs wastes the overlap by not passing the ball. B&I Lions win the turnover.
• 46th min: Francois Steyn makes a huge clearance kick.
• 46th min: Gethin Jenkins leaves the field with concussion after a huge collision with Brian Habana.
• 46th min: Adam Jones leaves the field with a dislocated shoulder. Uncontested scrums come into effect.
• 49th min: B&I Lions concede a penalty for a malicious high tackle on Schalk Burger.
• 50th min: Ruan Pienaar misses the kick.
• 50th min: Adrian Jacobs knocks the ball on.
• 52nd min: Brian Habana knocks the ball on, but is saved by the penalty advantage.
• 53rd min: Ruan Pienaar misses another kick at goal.
• 56th min: Jean De Villiers is substituted instead of Adrian Jacobs.
• 59th min: Bakkies Botha and Juan Smith are substituted instead of front row players.
• 60th min: John Smit is penalised after the ball was out.
• 61st min: Stephen Jones converts the penalty.
• 62nd min: Danie Rossouw gets knocked out cold by Brian O’Driscoll’s offside, high, swinging arm tackle. Inadequate advantage is given.
• 63rd min: Brian Habans runs a perfect line to score the best backline try of the game.
• 65th min: Brian O’Driscoll is substituted by Shane Williams.
• 67th min: Heinrich Brussow wins the penalty, which is converted by replacement flyhalf, Morne Steyn.
• 70th min: Schalk Burger is caught offside, costing the Springboks 3 points.
• 71st min: B&I Lions fall straight over the ball, no penalty is awarded.
• 75th min: Replacement centre, Jacques Fourie shown immense strength and skill in keeping infield to go over for the try. (This bus is full..)
• 76th min: Heinrich Brussow makes a crunching tackle on Shane Williams.
• 80th min: Ronan O’Gara tackles Fourie Du Preez in the air awarding a penalty to the Springboks. Replacement Morne Steyn shows amazing BMT to goal a 52m kick, winning the game and sealing the series for the Springboks.

For those of you who missed the game, I hope your surgery was successful and that you make a full recovery. Here are the highlights. There’s something truly special at 08min05. Enjoy!