RWC final too close to call - Schalk
Schalk Burger will watch the World Cup final with a beer and a lingering sense of regret.
|||Johannesburg - Schalk Burger will watch the World Cup final with a beer and a lingering sense of regret.
When it comes to predicting a winner, however, the Springbok is opting for the view from the fence.
Australia, rejuvenated under Michael Cheika, versus New Zealand, the All Black mean machine which has rolled inexorably to the final under the stewardship of Steven Hansen, meet at Twickenham on Saturday.
It is a clash which Burger is relishing hugely, and which he believes is too close to call. “That's a tough one,” Burger told the Rugby News Service.
“We played both of them this year and both of them were super close from a Springbok point of view. We lost to Australia in the 83rd minute and New Zealand in the 78th minute.
“As far as I'm concerned there are no favourites, I will sit back and have a beer and be a little bit gutted that we weren't there. If you look at both teams, they are the two most experienced teams, these are not fly-by-night sides. They are teams who are not rattled, who are measured and who understand where they are coming from and where they want to play.
“Their strengths are similar, their style is similar. New Zealand kick more in an attacking shape; Australia pass to No 10 (Bernard Foley) and he kicks long, so New Zealand are more attacking. But this match will be 100 per cent mental preparation, and who buckles under the pressure, and who can't soak it up.”
The first point of conflict will be in the coach's box, where Cheika and Hansen will be hoping they have prepared their teams well enough. Burger admires Cheika from afar and has a closer relationship with Hansen, who picked him for the Barbarians in 2013 when he was returning from a long lay-off with meningitis.
“I was making my comeback so I was skin and bone back then,” Burger said. “I spent a week with Steve in London and he's one heck of a nice guy. I don't know Cheika too well. I've played against his teams and he seems super-passionate and keen and he understands how to get his teams up to play on a big occasion. He is completely different to Steve, who is calm and measured.
“If you look at the last four years, New Zealand have lost three games so they probably deserve it for being the best team in the world but Australia have markedly improved since Cheika took over.”
From the coach's box to the field, and the clash of captains, Richie McCaw versus Stephen Moore. Burger is close friends with McCaw and joked before the semifinal that he would enjoy a chat with him at the bottom of the ruck.
“We were a bit too fired-up for that,” admitted Burger, who described his head as “mashed potato” after the defeat.
“Both captains have been around for a long time and are impeccable leaders who get their team up different ways. But comparing McCaw to anyone in history is like comparing anyone in modern era golf to Tiger Woods. Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson won four or five (Majors), Tiger has won 14.”
Then there is the skirmish between wings Nehe Milner-Skudder and Julian Savea on the All Blacks side and Wallabies Adam Ashley-Cooper and Drew Mitchell.
“Wings come in different sizes. There's some good match-ups there. Savea is big and powerful, Milner-Skudder is nippy, smaller with great feet. Adam's a good friend of mine. Drew is almost on the same number of tries as Bryan (Habana) and Jonah Lomu (World Cup record of 15). There is a clever, solid attacking structure on both teams. They will put each other under pressure.”
The word pressure was rarely off Burger's lips as he contemplated a match in which form suggests New Zealand are overwhelming favourites.
He recalled RWC 2011 when France, written off in advance, could easily have beaten the All Blacks in the final. Then there was RWC 2007.
“In 2007 we played England twice and gave them 50 points both times (58-10, 55-22) then in the World Cup we gave them 36 points in the pool stages and the next thing it's the final and it's 15-6 and so close. This match is a one-off. Anything can happen.”
ANA