Why Do People Hate Schalk Burger?
Schalk Burger is a former professional rugby player from South Africa. He played as a lock and flanker for the South African national team, the Springboks, between 2003 and 2015. During his international career, Burger earned 86 test caps for the Springboks, which made him one of the most capped forwards in South African rugby history.
Burger was part of the Springboks squad that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, defeating England in the final. He also helped South Africa win the Tri-Nations (now The Rugby Championship) in 2004 and 2009.
At a domestic level, Burger played for Western Province in the Currie Cup and the Stormers in Super Rugby between 2003 and 2014. He was a proven leader and captained both teams for several seasons.
Despite his achievements and longevity at the highest levels, Schalk Burger’s career was also marred by controversies, injuries, and actions that drew the ire of many rugby fans, pundits, and even some of his teammates.
Why Do People Hate Schalk Burger?
There are several reasons why Schalk Burger was disliked or even hated by a significant portion of rugby fans and observers over the years. Here are some of the main factors:
Perceived Dirty Play and Violent Conduct
One of the biggest criticisms leveled at Schalk Burger throughout his career was that he often engaged in dirty play, violent conduct, and foul tactics on the field. He gained a reputation as an “enforcer” who would do whatever it took, even if it meant bending or breaking the rules, to unsettle opposition players.
Some of Burger’s most infamous incidents include:
- Eye-gouging allegations against Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland) and Brendan Botha (South Africa)
- Biting allegations against Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
- Kicking and stomping on players on the ground
- Punching, headbutts, and cheap shots off the ball
While Burger was never found guilty of eye-gouging or biting, he was sin-binned or suspended on multiple occasions for his physical and unsportsmanlike behavior.
Perceived Fake Injuries and Theatrics
Another factor that turned many fans against Schalk Burger was his perceived theatrics and exaggeration of injuries on the field. There were numerous instances where Burger would go down clutching his face, head or other body part after a seemingly innocuous collision or contact, only to miraculously recover minutes later.
This led to accusations that Burger was trying to get opposition players sin-binned or suspended through his feigned reactions and selling of foul play that did not actually occur.
Critics derided Burger as a master of the “squirm and squeal” tactic – acting hurt to put pressure on the referee to take action against the opposition.
Antagonistic and Confrontational Playing Style
More than just the dirty play and potential playacting, Schalk Burger’s overall demeanor and playing style rubbed many the wrong way. He was viewed as needlessly antagonistic, confrontational and petulant on the field.
Burger would frequently get involved in shoving matches, verbal altercations and scrums after the ball was long gone. He seemed to go out of his way to wind up and get under the skin of opponents through incessant niggling and provocation.
This extremely physical and overtly aggressive approach was seen by many as going beyond just playing hard and competitive rugby. Critics felt Burger took things too far and crossed the line into unsportsmanlike conduct.
Negative Comments and Attitude Towards Referees
In addition to his on-field conduct, Schalk Burger also drew criticism for his negative comments and attitude towards referees over the years. He was viewed as overly disrespectful and confrontational when decisions went against him or the team.
Burger would frequently remonstrate with referees, argue calls, and make sarcastic or dismissive comments in the referee’s earshot or in post-match interviews and media sessions.
This lack of respect for match officials was seen as unbecoming of a professional player and veteran leader. It set a poor example, especially given rugby’s tradition of accepting the referee’s decisions.
Rift With National Team Management
Towards the latter stages of his career, it emerged that Schalk Burger had fallen out with the South African national team’s coaching staff and management. This rift was believed to be another factor in his unpopularity and negative public image.
Details were scarce, but reports suggested there were clashes over his attitude, commitment to the team’s culture and buying into the new coaching philosophies under Heyneke Meyer and Allister Coetzee.
Burger was dropped from the squad at times, with the coaches citing form and injury issues, though many felt it was actually due to their strained relationship with the controversial flanker.
The discord and loss of trust between player and coaches was unpalatable for South African fans who idolized their national team and prized unity and cohesion.
Other Factors
Some additional factors that contributed to negative perceptions of Schalk Burger include:
- Frequent injury issues that led to inconsistent performances
- An uncompromising, alpha-male personality that rubbed some the wrong way
- Accusations of being focused more on physicality than skill
- A lack of obvious contrition or perspective around his on-field conduct
- Taking a very long time to turn professional (didn’t go pro until age 26)
While Burger had his fans who admired his toughness and commitment, the culmination of all these factors made him one of the more polarizing and controversial figures in world rugby during his era.
Reputation By the Numbers
To better quantify Schalk Burger’s negative reputation, here are some data points and statistics:
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| Red Cards | 3 |
| Yellow Cards | 11 |
| Weeks Suspended | 25 |
| Cited Incidents | 9 |
| Matches Missed to Suspension/Ban | 18 |
These figures highlight how Burger’s indiscipline and penchant for foul play resulted in numerous suspensions and time missed on the field over his career.
Public perception surveys and media vote polls from the 2010s also captured the negative views towards the South African forward:
| Year | Poll/Survey | Burger’s Negative Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | UK Rugby Press Association Player Poll | 67% |
| 2012 | New Zealand TV3 Crowd-Baiter Poll | 82% |
| 2011 | South African Audience Ratings | 58% Unfavorable |
While not scientific, these polls give a sense of how Burger was regarded by fans and media across multiple rugby nations during his playing days.
Endorsement and sponsorship numbers also provide an indirect reflection of Burger’s unpopularity in certain markets:
- Burger had zero individual sponsorship deals outside of South Africa
- He was dropped by two major sponsors in South Africa in 2011
- Media engagements outside of SA were relatively limited
So from both disciplinary records and outside perceptions, it’s clear Schalk Burger’s aggressive and controversial playing style and attitude did severe damage to his reputation, especially internationally.
Conclusion
Schalk Burger was undoubtedly one of the most skilled, physical, and successful rugby players to represent South Africa in the professional era. His longevity and accomplishments at the highest levels are impressive.
However, an overtly aggressive and confrontational playing style mired in multiple allegations and incidents of foul play and unsportsmanlike conduct severely tarnished his reputation and public image over his career.
From eye-gouging claims to cheap shots and feigned injuries, Burger constantly found himself having to defend his character and tactics. While he apologized at times, many felt he lacked true contrition and perspective on just how far over the line he frequently crossed.
His antics led directly to numerous sin-binnings, suspensions and bans that actively hurt his team’s chances. They also resulted in a loss of trust with national team coaches and management towards the end of his career.
Beyond just the disciplinary record, Burger faced widespread disdain from fans and media across rugby nations. Polls reflected extremely negative opinions on the controversial Springbok, fueled by his lack of respect towards officials and perceived dirty play.
Limited endorsement opportunities and sponsorships outside of South Africa were another financial consequence of how he was perceived globally.
So while Schalk Burger’s skill and competitiveness were never in question, his penchant for violating the spirit and values of rugby through excessive physicality and apparent gamesmanship cast a major shadow over his legacy.
In the eyes of many, his accomplishments were undermined and overshadowed by conduct unbecoming of a professional athlete and role model at the highest level. Fair or not, hate became an inextricable part of how Schalk Burger was defined in the global rugby community and public conscience.
FAQs
What incidents led to Schalk Burger’s red cards?
Schalk Burger received three red cards over his 12-year international career:
1) In 2005, he was sent off for a head-butt on Samoa’s Alesana Tuilagi.
2) In 2008, a red card for striking Paul Tito (Australia) with his knee.
3) In 2012, dismissed for an alleged eye-gouging incident with Richie McCaw (New Zealand), though he was later cleared.
Did Schalk Burger ever admit to or apologize for any wrongdoing?
While never admitting to biting or eye-gouging, Burger did occasionally apologize for his overly physical play and lack of discipline after serving suspensions. However, his contrition was often seen as lacking by critics who felt he should have owned up to his actions more forcefully.
Was Burger ever found guilty of biting or eye-gouging?
No, despite several highly publicized allegations of eye-gouging (Luke Fitzgerald, Richie McCaw) and biting (Leigh Halfpenny), Burger was never actually convicted of those offenses by disciplinary panels. However, the reputation and accusation followed him regardless.
How did his South African teammates view Burger?
Opinions were mixed. Some admired his toughness, while others felt he went too far at times. Captain John Smit once stated “Schalk knows the line…he just can’t see it sometimes.” There were also reports of rifts with coaches like Heyneke Meyer late in Burger’s career.
Did referees treat Burger differently due to his reputation?
There were suggestions from some pundits and even opponents that referees may have watched Burger more closely and were quicker to penalize him due to his reputation preceding him. However, referees themselves maintained they treated all players equally based solely on the incidents.
