Luke: I support Schalk fully

Schalk Burger will arrive in New Zealand on Monday with two yellow cards already behind his name after just three matches, but his Stormers captain Luke Watson doesn't want him to change anything about his approach during the Australasian tour.

Burger may have been unlucky to be carded by referee Paul Marks in the 21-16 win over the Chiefs in Cape Town on Friday night. But it was the truculent way he reacted to the carding that was of concern.

"Discipline is very important to us and obviously we will have to speak to Schalk as we cannot afford to give away penalties or have players sent from the field," said coach Kobus van der Merwe.

The Stormers showed great commitment and character in the period they were down to 14-men in the second half, and should have scored a try to Gerrie Britz as the Stormers forward appeared to ground the ball over the line. The television match official decided though that it was inconclusive.

But Van der Merwe is right in saying that in future it could cost the Stormers, and against better opposition, particularly on foreign fields in the coming weeks, it probably will. It is always difficult to criticise Burger as loose-forwards with his approach and the expectation the team has of him at the breakdown always tread a fine line between transgression and the right side of the law, with it often being left to the referee's interpretation.

And Watson, who probably didn't realise just how much he sounded like Springbok coach Jake White, hit the nail on the head when he said it was Burger's accuracy that needed refinement, not his approach.

"Schalk is a whole-hearted player who gives everything and his commitment and aggression at the breakdown is what makes him so good," said Watson.

"I support Schalk fully on this. He may get penalised every now and then and he may get carded occasionally, but I would rather have a player with Schalk's attitude than one who is asleep most of the time and you have to motivate to get stuck in. Schalk will always be close to the line, that is the nature of his job description.

"But his approach is the right one, he needs to continue like that. I would hate to have to approach Schalk to tell him to put a lid on his aggression and enthusiasm. That would be taking away the thing that makes him who he is. He needs to be more accurate, he does not need to change his approach."

It could well help the Stormers cause, however, if someone could prevail on Burger to play a couple of games on the blindside flank to enable Watson to specialise again at openside.

It is completely understandable why Burger wants to have a chance in the Super 14 to fill the role that he does with the Springboks, but it is becoming clearer by the week that Watson is so much less effective when he is not under instruction to be all over the ball for the entire match.

Not that it is impossible to satisfy the needs of both the Stormers and Burger, for playing one of Burger or Watson at No 8 would enable both players to play to the ball.

Peter Grant also did all that was expected of him, and those who criticise him for his goalkicking may be guilty of neglecting the value of having a direct flyhalf in a team that hitherto has struggled at forward.

The benefits of having Grant in the side are massive. When a flyhalf lines up in a flatter position and takes the ball on the gainline, the ball is both nearer the forwards and in front of them, and they are not robbed of momentum by having to drop back in support of a deep-lining flyhalf.

It appears from what Van der Merwe said at the press conference after the Chiefs game that Francois van der Merwe may replace one of the locks against the Highlanders.

The coach should also take greater cognisance of the transformation guidelines. When Conrad Jantjes was forced out at the last minute for the Chiefs game, it left the Stormers with just one black player in Breyton Paulse. In the Cape, that should be seen as unacceptable.

Stormers squad:

Gio Aplon, Conrad Jantjes, Brent Russell, Breyton Paulse, Egon Seconds, Corne Uys, Jean de Villiers, De Wet Barry, Naas Olivier, Peter Grant, Bolla Conradie, JP Joubert, Robbie Diack, Justin Melck, Schalk Burger, Luke Watson (captain), Gerrie Britz, Andries Bekker, Ross Skeate, Francois van der Merwe, Brock Harris, Eddie Andrews, Tiaan Liebeberg, Schalk Brits, JD Moller, Schalk Ferreira.

Tour fixtures

Saturday, 24 February: Highlanders Dunedin; Saturday 3 March: Hurricanes Palmerston North; Friday 9 March: Brumbies Canberra; Saturday 17 March: Waratahs Sydney; Saturday 24: March Crusaders Christchurch