White says Boks will cope

PARIS – South Africa coach Jake White said on Wednesday his team would be able to cope with the loss of flanker Schalk Burger although he still hoped a four-match ban will be overturned on appeal.

The former International Rugby Board player of the year was banned in the early hours of Wednesday morning for four games after being cited for a high tackle on Samoa scrumhalf Junior Polu. Burger will not play again in the tournament unless the Springboks reach the semi-finals or the ban is overturned on appeal.”There is a legal team working on it,” White told reporters “We are not happy about it, we will appeal it and whatever procedures will have to be followed in terms of the participation agreement will be followed.”I was shocked.You get told at one o’clock in the morning after a hearing that you have lost a player like Schalk Burger and it’s not something that you take without being shocked about it.”I’m confident that this group of players have been through enough adversity in the last four years to be able to ride one more challenge.”Burger’s place in the team to play England on Friday is likely to be taken by Wikus van Heerden.The Blue Bulls flanker replaced Burger in South Africa’s final two Tri-Nations matches of the season when White controversially rested key players.”We are a squad of 30 players and there are certain players who played in the away leg of the Tri-Nations away who I am very confident can stand in,” said White.”I’m positive in terms of the team dynamic.”Nampa-AFPBurger will not play again in the tournament unless the Springboks reach the semi-finals or the ban is overturned on appeal.”There is a legal team working on it,” White told reporters “We are not happy about it, we will appeal it and whatever procedures will have to be followed in terms of the participation agreement will be followed.”I was shocked.You get told at one o’clock in the morning after a hearing that you have lost a player like Schalk Burger and it’s not something that you take without being shocked about it.”I’m confident that this group of players have been through enough adversity in the last four years to be able to ride one more challenge.”Burger’s place in the team to play England on Friday is likely to be taken by Wikus van Heerden.The Blue Bulls flanker replaced Burger in South Africa’s final two Tri-Nations matches of the season when White controversially rested key players.”We are a squad of 30 players and there are certain players who played in the away leg of the Tri-Nations away who I am very confident can stand in,” said White.”I’m positive in terms of the team dynamic.”Nampa-AFP