Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Brüssow has been called into the South Africa squad as cover for Schalk Burger.
Cheetahs flanker called up as cover for Burger
Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Brüssow has been called into the South Africa squad as cover for Schalk Burger.
Brüssow, who gave the touring British and Irish Lions such a miserable time at the breakdown in Bloemfontein when playing for the Cheetahs, was seen by many as a surprise omission when the original squad was announced.
But with Burger still struggling with the torn calf muscle sustained at the end of April, he now gets his chance to show his worth in the squad at least.
Burger has not yet definitively been ruled out of the first Test, but having been out for 10 weeks and with Brüssow in such good form, it seems a change in the back row is likely.
"We brought in Heinrich Brüssow to join the squad, just in case Schalk won't make it. But it's only precautionary," confirmed Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.
South Africa's condition coach Neels Liebel rated Burger as a "very good chance" of playing the opening Test in Durban, but a decision will only be made on Thursday following a reassessment on the World Cup-winning flanker.
In the meantime, De Villiers is holding his breath that the bustling blonde loose forward recovers in time and takes his place in the starting line-up. Although Burger's form has been up for debate following an average Super 14 campaign, De Villiers has only one number six in mind to terrorise the Lions.
"Schalk is one of the players that plays a major role in my plans and I build almost 60 per cent of everything we do around him in the forwards. So it will be a big blow for us if he doesn't make it," admitted De Villiers.
Positive
"I'm positive he will (make it) though, and I hope and pray that he'll come through."
Should the 46-times capped Burger fail to recover sufficiently, De Villiers admits Brüssow could still miss out. Danie Rossouw has been mentioned as a possible replacement and the Bok coach believes South Africa don't necessarily need an out-and-out fetcher to rule the breakdown.
"I have a lot of belief in guys like Danie Rossouw. He is an honest, hard-working rugby player. So it will be tough to decide who will play if Schalk doesn't play, but I know it will be the right choice," he said.
"The way the game is going nowadays, you must be multi-skilled.
"I think if you approach the rucks correctly and are clinical you don't necessarily need somebody who plays toward the ball. We've brought in John Plumtree (Sharks coach) to help with this aspect and it has been going very well."
The Springbok team will be announced on Tuesday, and De Villiers was giving nothing away. Besides the wait on Burger's availability, the Test line-up speaks for itself. However, it's the bench that could spring a few surprises.
"The team was settled in my mind four weeks ago," said De Villiers.
"The starting line-up determines the bench, so they are also settled in my mind. It's going to be a very good and competitive South African side. We don't want to just be a part of this Lions series, we want to win it."
