Springboks call up Burger to replace Louw

Japan-based flanker Schalk Burger was on Wednesday called up as replacement for the injured Francois Louw in the South Africa squad for the final two Rugby Championship Tests.
Louw is expected to be out for about two months with a neck injury, dealing the Springboks a blow ahead of matches against Australia on September 27 in Cape Town and New Zealand on October 4 in Johannesburg.
The loss of Louw means coach Heyneke Meyer must prepare for the Wallabies and the All Blacks without both first-choice flanks.
Willem Alberts was injured on the eve of the first-round match against Argentina in Pretoria last month and has not played since.
Teboho 'Oupa' Mohoje and Warren Whiteley are the loose forward options within the squad that toured Australasia this month, losing narrowly to Australia and New Zealand.
But Meyer has plumped for the experience of Burger, who will play for his Japanese club Suntory on Friday before joining up with the 'Bok squad in Cape Town as soon as possible thereafter.
The 71-times capped flanker was unavailable for the first four rounds of the Rugby Championship because of club commitments.
Meyer confirmed Siya Kolisi was also an option to replace Louw, but the Western Province loose forward was injured over the weekend ruling him out for approximately a month.
"I feel for Siya as he's been hitting great form again, but it's also good to be able to bring Schalk back into the squad," said Meyer.
"With Willem Alberts still out injured, Schalk's versatility helps as he can cover any position in the loose trio. He is also very experienced, brings leadership qualities and has been with us so he will slot back in easily.
"Schalk played a superb role in June mentoring the younger players in the squad, and he'll be able to carry on with that especially with players such as Warren Whiteley and Oupa Mohoje, who has shown massive improvement after only playing in a handful of Vodacom Super Rugby matches and making his Test debut earlier this season."
Amid growing government criticism of a national rugby team containing only one regular black African, Zimbabwe-born prop Tendai 'The Beast' Mtawarira, Meyer was full of praise for Mohoje, saying he could one day fill the void left by Louw and Alberts.
"Oupa is a strong ball carrier, very fast and hard-working on defence, but he is also a superb option at the back of the line-out," Meyer said.
African Mohoje made a brief, impressive mid-year appearance as a replacement against Scotland, but has not had any game time since.
Title-holders New Zealand lead the Championship with 16 points after four rounds, South Africa and Australia have 10 each and Argentina three.
Source: AFP