Schalk Burger’s hilarious warning to Henry Pollock after Duane Vermeulen compares England star to Springboks legend
England flanker Henry Pollock and an inset of Springboks great Schalk Burger.
Schalk Burger has responded to his former Springboks teammate, Duane Vermeulen, comparing him to England star Henry Pollock.
Earlier this month, Vermeulen was asked about the young flanker who toured with the British and Irish Lions last year and the Bok great, who is now part of Rassie Erasmus’ coaching team, said that he would love to make a short comeback to face the 21-year-old.
He said as much after comparing the polarising Northampton Saint to Burger, who also broke onto the scene as a young player sporting a mop of blonde hair.
Pollock is like a young Schalk
“He’s a young kid who obviously got the opportunity to play. If you look back at Schalk Burger when he came on the scene with that long blonde hair, you see the hair, and then you only see the tackle,” Vermeulen said at a Springboks media day.
“He’s got his following and people that like him, and there’s a hell of a lot of people that obviously dislike him, but when he plays, he has an impact, and he brings excitement to the game.
“It’s going to be interesting when the boys hit the ground in the first Test. I would love to then have a comeback, if it’s only for 10 minutes, but he brings something special to their team, into their squad, and a massive energy.
“The nice thing about the youngsters coming in is that they bring a lot of energy, and they’re pushing the more experienced guys to stay on top of their game and also to push themselves. He’s a character on the field and obviously a character off the field, but… When he plays, he plays his part, so I can’t really say anything bad about him. He’s a good player.”
Six Nations winners and losers from the ‘histrionics’ of Henry Pollock to the ‘unplayable’ Louis Bielle-Biarrey
Burger’s response
Appearing on the Verdict show alongside fellow ex-Springboks Jean de Villiers and Hanyani Shimange, Burger was asked about Vermeulen’s comments and, rather humorously, issued a warning to the young flanker.
“Duane said a lot there. He said Henry Pollock, with his hair reminds me of a young Schalk Burger,” show host Shimange said.
Burger replied: “Well, the hair is the same, we didn’t use the same hairdresser, surely not.”
De Villier chipped in, joking that the ‘Personality is the same.’
Whilst Burger was renowned for his flowing blonde locks for the majority of his career, the 42-year-old has significantly less hair nowadays and warned Pollock that the same fate may await him if they are so similar.
“If we are very similar, Henry Pollock, you’re going to look like this in a couple of years’ time, pal. You’d better find your wife soon,” he remarked, removing his hat from his head.
“No, very much the same personality. On the field, the same characteristics, social media and so on,” De Villiers remarked before Burger concluded, adding: “I would like to think I was a little bit more understated, fellas.”
It’s not the first time that Burger has commented on the rising England star as he took a jab at him during November last year.
“It’s a different era. He’s a TikTok dancer and he plays a little bit of rugby on the weekend. His main gig is to be on social media,” Burger quipped on the Boks Unpacked.
But added: “The way England set up their team, they’ve got the three loose forwards on the bench – Curry, him and Cunningham-South – he comes on and he just flies around and tries to make a big impact. It suits him to a tee.
“In that English side, he’s got to be in the 23 every weekend because he can change a game quickly.
“I can’t quite do the sideshows.”
READ MORE: The groundbreaking, non-invasive treatment that’s attracting former rugby players like Ugo Monye
