Springbok World Cup-winning loose forward Schalk Burger will captain the Stormers in the Super 14 next year, according to senior professional coach Rassie Erasmus.

Addressing a media gathering at Newlands on Tuesday, Erasmus revealed that Burger is the "front runner" to taker over from Jean de Villiers as Stormers skipper - with the Bok midfielder having joined up with Irish province Munster.

With Luke Watson, who took over as Currie Cup captain while the Boks were on international duty, having joined up with English club Bath, it left a vacancy at both number eight and in the captaincy department.

"Schalk [Burger] is the front runner," Erasmus said.

He pointed to Burger's contribution in coming on as a second-half replacement in the Currie Cup semifinal loss (19-21) to the Blue Bulls at the weekend.

"You could see when he came onto the field [last] Saturday, he is a great leader," Erasmus said, adding: "He has the most Test caps in our team [50].

"He really relates well to the whole management set-up, he understands our systems and he is a Province boy through-and-through.

"Nothing is finalised yet, but it would be a really big surprise if we don't appoint Schalk Burger [as captain]," Erasmus added.

He also pointed out that Burger, along with Duane Vermeulen, as likely to fulfill the number eight role played by Watson in the Currie Cup and Super 14 this year.

"The way we coach at Western Province and the Stormers is not to have a specialist openside, but for the whole team to contest [at the breakdown].

"Yes, there is this whole debate about the openside flank. But we practice from 15 to one to see if everyone can make the decision to contest on the ground.

"So, if we play opposition that is strong in the line-out, it would be wonderful to have Duane [Vermeulen], Flouw [Francois Louw] and Schalk [Burger], who can all contest in the line-outs.

However, if we play against a Brussowtjie [Bok poacher Heinrich Brussow], then a guy like Pieter Myburgh, or a Poerie [Conraad] Britz, or somebody like that can come into the mix.

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