Jacques Burger gives the credit to Billy Vunipola for flying start

Billy VunipolaHe has been called the best ‘signing' of the summer after putting two years of injury hell behind him – but Jacques Burger claims he cannot compare to wrecking-ball clubmate .
Such was the impact of the returning Burger for at the start of the season that he picked up the Aviva player of the month award for September.
He also reaffirmed director of rugby Mark McCall's statement he was the best addition of the summer, despite the arrivals of Vunipola and front row colossus James Johnston.
But while Burger is again displaying his unique brand of ultra-aggressive tackling, he says Vunipola, favourite to start for at No.8 against , with Ben Morgan out of form, is the man behind Sarries' flying start.
“Billy's been a really good addition to the team, a big carrying No.6 or No.8 and I think we did lack a bit of carrying power,” he said.  “We had back rowers who could play the game but not really a good carrier, we had Jackson Wray who is a good carrier but Billy has that size as well.
“He's matured so much and is top-class, he can play for England any moment.
“I was surprised with Billy's work-rate, obviously he's a big guy, carries really well and runs hard, but when he got here I was really impressed with how hard he works on the pitch.
“He chases hard and does things that guys don't really see as they only notice his running with the ball.  When he got here he was better in that than I expected.”
Lancaster, meanwhile, admits Morgan has “a lot of credit in the bank” with England despite his average start to the season, but the England head coach's eyes lit up at the prospect of unleashing Vunipola and brother Mako on Australia on November 2.
“Billy's having an outstanding start to the season. He has made the transition from to Saracens well,” said Lancaster.
“As ball-carrying threats, as a pair, you could probably build quite a lot around them.”
While Vunipola is sure to feature at Twickenham next month, the came too soon for Sarries flanker Will Fraser, who timed his own return from a six-month shoulder injury to score the game's only try against Wasps before playing 80 minutes against recently.
It leaves Burger with plenty of competition in the back row but the flanker fully intends to stake his claim for a starting spot.
“It's amazing, it's been a blessing being back playing again,” said Burger, whose injury problems started when charging down a kick against in 2011.
“It's one of those things I'll always feel, if you ask a million rugby players – there's no one will be 100 per cent fit.  There will always be issues but we have a pretty good medical team and they look after me well.
“It's about doing my part on the weekends while they look after me during the week.  The knee feels good and I'm excited just to be out there playing again.
“If I get a knock or a cut that's why I'm not too bothered about that at the moment, it's just such a blessing to be out there.
“I did have a few more nerves coming back from a knee injury and you never know – everyone's put their trust in you to get back into the side and they obviously chose you for the weekend, so you just hope you're at your best.
“There's some decision making, you over-commit to certain things or run different lines that you maybe wouldn't do when you're fully fit or have been playing for a couple of weeks.
“It's getting into that rhythm again and it takes a while – the way you get that is by playing. I was satisfied with the way it went first game and it felt like it went a bit better with every game after that.”
PIPPA FIELD

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