On the walk out of Bath’s Recreation Ground on Saturday evening, I bumped into David Flatman, the former England prop turned popular TNT Sports presenter.
‘Mate,’ he said. ‘When are you going to start writing about Ethan Burger?’
When Flatman, who played eight times for his country alongside a 14-year career with Saracens and Bath, has something to say about a front-row forward you had better listen.
Burger is a relative unknown. He only arrived at Exeter last summer but he is quickly forging a reputation as an electric loosehead, coming off the bench to explosive effect by scoring the match-winning try as Exeter shocked Bath to reach this Saturday’s Prem final.
The 26-year-old, born and raised in South Africa but eligible to represent England because his grandfather was born in Leicester, took down Bath’s fearsome Springbok Thomas du Toit, renowned as one of the world’s best scrummagers.
Ross McMillan, Exeter’s forwards coach, scouted Burger when he was playing for the University of Pretoria, where he was studying education.
Ethan Burger, who played both prop and No 8 at university in South Africa, is now putting himself firmly on England’s radar
The 26-year-old crashed over for the winning try last weekend as Exeter came from 16 points down to beat reigning champions Bath in the Prem semi-final
Burger rejoices as Exeter’s mammoth final defensive stand saw off a late Bath challenge
‘I enjoy finding the players that people overlook and I spotted Ethan playing student rugby in South Africa,’ McMillan told Daily Mail Sport. ‘He was captaining a pretty low-level university team. He scrummaged at loosehead on the opposition feed to get the ball back. And on his own feed, he would scrummage at No 8 so he could carry. We didn’t just use generic agencies to find him, we used our own eyes.
‘I tried to sign him when I was at London Irish but I was unable to do that because of everything that went on there (the club went bankrupt in 2022). We kept in contact and it was right time, right opportunity, right place. Rob Baxter saw what he can offer and trusted his own eyes.’
At 6ft 2in and 19st 2lb, Burger is one of the most physically gifted looseheads in the league.
Despite making just 19 senior appearances, he took on Du Toit and won, then scored the winning try as Exeter came from 16 points down to stun the reigning champions and reach their first Prem final for five years.
‘Ethan’s 26 but he was playing at Plymouth Albion last year,’ said McMillan. ‘His exposure to top-flight rugby hasn’t been a straight journey. He’s managed to come to another country and really settle in.
‘He’s a quiet, humble guy who likes the simple things in life. He’s a pleasure to work with and he’s a great team-mate. I must stress the impact that Scott Sio had had on his development. Scotty is a high-cap Australian and he gives Ethan everything he has.
‘The proof is always in the pudding and last weekend he applied everything we’ve been working on. He tactically adapted to situations within the scrum. When you come on early in the half, there’s always the potential of facing two props within the same half. He faced Thomas du Toit and Billy Sela and he adapted well to the two guys. It was pleasing to see that impact.
‘Having a 6ft 2in, 120kg-plus loosehead with the ability to play how Ethan does… he’s one of our fastest forwards, his repeat power efforts are phenomenal and his limit is wherever he decides to take it.’
Burger (left) celebrates at full time with Bachuki Tchumbadze as Exeter reached their first Prem final for five years
Burger (left) has benefitted hugely from the guidance of Australia prop Scott Sio (right), who he replaced at Bath
South Africa’s World Cup-winning captain John Smit (centre) is one of Burger’s heroes, and set a template for how to play both hooker and prop
Outside of Ellis Genge and Fin Baxter, both of whom have suffered injuries this year, England’s loosehead options remain up for debate. Despite his South African roots, wearing a Red Rose looks his best route into international rugby given the depth of options the Springboks have.
‘My ambition is to make these guys live out their dreams and I know Ethan dreams big,’ says McMillan. ‘I look at him as a bit of a hybrid player who could play hooker or loosehead. John Smit (the South African World Cup-winning captain in 2007) was one of his heroes and he played 1, 2 and 3. We’ve looked at that, but it’s clear he’s going to be a very good loosehead prop and he’s got the ambition to succeed.
‘He’s got family connections that mean he’s an English-qualified player. As an Englishman, I would love that. Whether he’s representing our country or representing another country, I want our players to live out their dreams.
‘At the same time, I know full well that Ethan will carry on trying to get better day by day. What comes next to me is the consistency of performance. But if you’re asking me if I believe that he’s got the potential to do that, then I believe that Ethan has the mental, physical and skill level to play as high a level as he so wishes.’
If he continues on the same trajectory then it will not be long before thousands more join Flatman in the Ethan Burger Fan Club.