HEADLINES:
R/€ Incredible Schalk linesup comeback in January
July 14, 2006 Edition 1
Karen Breytenbach
Schalk Burger has made peace with his neck injury and plans to live a "normal" life until his return to rugby next January, spending some time in the countryside or adding on to his house in Newlands.
For the first time he is the spectator and not the spectated, in a season dogged by injuries and violence. Burger admitted he sometimes found it difficult to watch matches, being afraid for the mistakes his teammates could make.
Particularly dismaying for him was the violent death of Rawsonville flyhalf Riaan Loots, a matter now under investigation by the police and Boland Rugby Union.
"In the long run it's bad for rugby's image, because mothers won't allow their sons to play," he said.
Asked if he planned to tone down his robust style of play, Burger said he loved the game too much not to give it his all. Everything was relative, though, said the flank - who watched the World Cup while recuperating - because if he had been a soccer player, although he could not condone the behaviour, he probably would have "done the same" as French captain Zinedine Zidane, who headbutted an opponent who had insulted his mother and sister.
After undergoing an operation to fuse vertebrae in his neck two weekends ago after a botched tackle, the laid-back blond giant spent a week getting back to his roots, on his family's wine farm Welbedacht near Wellington, where he hopes to build a house and raise a family one day.
He said his Plan B, if he could no longer play rugby, would be to market his brother's wine.
The second "chilled out" post-operation week was spent on his parents' sheep and game farm in the Karoo.
The Springbok flank returned to Newlands this week, ready to get on with his social life, interviews and other less physical activities.
Looking fit and healthy, the only evidence of injury is a small surgery scar on his neck.
Burger walked out of Milnerton Medi-Clinic the day after his 150-minute operation and a few days later, took off a neckbrace.
Doctors said he could start jogging three months from now and start training for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in January.
© 1999 - 2010 Mercury & Independent Online (Pty) Ltd. All rights reserved.