Schalk is fit for Super 14 opener

SUPERSPORT.COM

CAPE TOWN – The Stormers will enter the final build-up week to the beginning of the Super 14 in a good frame of mind after Schalk Burger was declared fit to lead the side in the competition opener against the Lions in Joburg on Saturday.

The 47-13 win over Boland by what was essentially a Stormers fringe team to open the new Cape Town Stadium to rugby at the weekend completed a perfect warm-up phase to the tournament, but there was the potential for it to be marred by the shoulder injury which forced the captain off after 14 minutes.

Burger got entangled with Boland flyhalf Dean Grant early in the game, and looked uncomfortable after that. He eventually left the field and watched the rest of it from the sidelines, prompting fears that he might not be there for the opener.

However, it has been confirmed that the ailment was just what coach Allister Coetzee described as a slight muscle injury, and Burger will be fit to play in Johannesburg.

The other injury sustained by the Stormers against Boland was the fractured elbow that forced centre Paul Bosch off in the second half, but he was never going to be in the team for the Lions match anyway.

Although several of the fringe players did well against Boland, and No 8 Pieter Louw was particularly outstanding, Burger is likely to be one of only two players who played at the Cape Town Stadium who will also feature in the starting team against the Lions.

The other is former Springbok scrumhalf Ricky Januarie.