Simplicity key for Burger

South Africa flanker Schalk Burger wants his team-mates to “keep it simple” when they take on England in the World Cup final tonight.

The Springboks look to have the edge over the holders, especially considering their 36-0 defeat of Brian Ashton’s men in the group stages.

They have strength up front and a clutch of danger men in their backs, and it appears to be a question of whether they can hold their game together under pressure.

Burger believes playing the percentages is the way forward against what has so far this tournament been a limited – but spirited – England team.

“There is no room for hero rugby, it’s just about doing the basics well. Hopefully that will be enough.,” said the Stormers star.

“We don’t have to do anything new. We just have to stick to the same game-plan, but maybe do it a little bit better.

“(Coach) Jake White has just told us to keep it simple and do what we have been doing over the past few weeks. And that’s what we are going to try to do.”

Burger missed the defeat of England last month because he was serving a suspension following a dangerous tackle against Samoa in South Africa’s first game of the World Cup.

That was the Springboks’ fourth straight victory over the world champions and the 24-year-old insists it is now all about grasping the nettle.

“We know what they can offer because we have faced them before. So we are pretty well prepared for this,” he added.

“We just have to go out there are play good rugby like we have been doing.

“You have to take the opportunity when you get it. You can’t get a better example of that than with New Zealand – they have been the best team in the world for four years and they haven’t had a run at the final.”

Burger, one of the most physical back-row forwards in the game, is expecting a battle tonight at the Stade de France.

“We all know there’s going to be a lot of physical contact, but physicality is something us South Africans pride ourselves on,” he added.

“It is with the English as well, so it’s bound to be a tough game.

“I’ve been lucky, I’ve had a couple of weeks off so I’m feeling a lot better than a lot of the guys who have played six games in a row.

“But when you get to a final, you forget about being tired.”