"I never really shirked away from the physical stuff."
When it comes to Schalk Burger, that is an under-statement.
The South African blindside made his Test debut aged just 20, in 2003, won World Player of the Year when he was 21 and finished his career up as a European champion with Saracens in May 2019. During that 16-year stretch, he was renowned as one of the toughest S.O.Bs in the game.
Bringing his immense physicality up to, and sometimes over, the line, Burger was beloved by Springboks supporters and often loathed by the opposition. He was one of the driving forces on a Boks side that won two Tri Nations championship, a World Cup and a Lions Series.
Burger joined House of Rugby Ireland hosts Ian Madigan and Eimear Considine this week [listen from 11:00 below] and delivered an interview as raw and impactful as the player we all knew him as.
There's lots more good stuff in the episode as Ian and Eimear look back on Ireland's six-game return to Test rugby and Schalk opens up on his 16-year career at the very top.
The four Ireland players who most impressed Andy Farrell
Growing up in South Africa as the son of a Springbok star
Swapping jerseys with Jerry Collins and Jerome Kaino
That epic 2009 Lions Series and Schalk's eight-week ban after the Second Test
Mentoring Siya Kolisi and what it's like to tackle Henry Tuilagi
WATCH THAT EPISODE HERE: SUBSCRIBE TO HOUSE OF RUGBY IRELAND:https://playpodca.st/house-of-rugby-ieSeason 3 has returned with Ian Madigan & Eimear Considine as hosts, and has already featured interviews with Brian O'Driscoll, Nigel Owens, Sean Cronin, Shane Williams, Mike Brown, CJ Stander, Ugo Monye, Sene Naoupu, Schalk Burger and Dan Leo.
