Enjoying a standard Australian pint...

As the South African rugby season draws closer and closer to an end, today we continue our new mid-week feature, Heroes of the game. Our ”hero from way back when” this week is none other than former Australian stalwart, Matt Burke. Burke secured his place in history as one of the finest full-backs the game has ever seen. Not only was Burke a powerful and elusive runner, his goal kicking was superb. During the 1999 Rugby World Cup, Burke scored 24 points against South Africa in the semi-final, as well as 25 against France in the final. The previous year he scored all of Australia’s 24 points against the All Blacks at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. A world record against the All Blacks at the time. Burke is 9th on the international point scorers list and third in the Tri Nations.

Burke’s representative rugby career began in 1990, when he toured the United States and Ireland with the Australian Schoolboys. He then progressed to the Australian U21 team in 1992 and 1993, at the same time representing Australia at the Hong Kong Sevens in 1992 and the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 1993.

Burke made his Test debut in 1993 when he played in the third test against the Springboks. In addition to playing for the Wallabies for over a decade, Burke became the first player in the history of Waratah rugby to play over 100 games, during his third year as the New South Wales Waratahs captain. He has had great success against the All Blacks including scoring one of Australia’s greatest Bledisloe Cup tries, in 1996. In Brisbane, from a standing start, Burke broke through numerous All Black tackles, throwing a dummy before running 80 metres for a memorable individual try.

Very much a confidence player, Burke’s form suffered in games where his goal-kicking ability went AWOL. He picked up a serious shoulder injury in 1998 and despite making it back in the squad for the 1999 Rugby World Cup, it has been speculated that the injury affected his playing style. He was retained as vice-captain and goal-kicker for the 2002 season. During that time he kicked a penalty after full-time to win the Bledisloe Cup in windy conditions at Stadium Australia.

Burkes amaizing 1996 Bledisloe Cup try:

Burke’s Retirement Feature:

Some Stats/Facts about Burke:

• Full Name: Matthew Burke
• Date of Birth: March 26, 1973
• Place of Birth: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
• Height: 1.83 m
• Weight: 94 kg
• Holds/held 22 Australian Rugby records and 7 International records
• World XV Rugby Team 2006
• NSW Waratahs 1990-2004
• Rugby Sevens Australia 1993
• Australian Wallabies 1993-2004
• Rugby World Cup Australia 1995, 1999 – winners, 2003 – runners-up
• PM’s XV 1999, 2000-2002
• Barbarians 1999, 2001, 2003 – 2005
• Newcastle Falcons 2004-2007
• Wallaby of the Year 1996
• Sydney Morning Herald Player of the Year 1996-1998
• Twentieth most capped international of all time at the time of his retirement.