Heyneke Meyer hails "amazing" Schalk Burger

Heyneke Meyer has heaped praise on flanker Schalk Burger ahead of South Africa's Rugby World Cup semi-final meeting with New Zealand.

The 32-year-old was left fighting for his life a little over two years ago after contracting bacterial meningitis.

Having since undergone five operations in order to make a full recovery, Burger will now earn his 85th cap at the weekend after being named in the Springboks' starting XV.

"He's an amazing human being," Meyer is quoted as saying by The Mirror. "Check what he's been through. For him just to be alive is great.

"I still can't work him out. He always has time for a joke, he puts the guys at ease, he's still smiling before we go into battle. But when he gets on the field he's a different human being."

Burger leads the way for ball carries at the 2015 World Cup and ranks third for most tackles and most offloads.