Heinrich Brüssow

Early career

Born in Bloemfontein, Brüssow attended Grey College and played in the First XV, later being selected for the Under-18 Free State Craven Week side. He was part of the Free State Cheetahs squad that shared the Currie Cup in 2006 with the Blue Bulls. In the 2007 Currie Cup final, he scored a try in a 20–18 win over the Golden Lions. Voted best open-side flanker in the Super 14 and Currie Cup in 2008, he earned a Springboks call-up for the November 2008 tour to the British Isles, playing the final four minutes against England.

Professional career

In 2009, Brüssow was again a flanker in the Super 14 but was initially excluded from the Springboks squad. He played for the Free State Cheetahs against the British & Irish Lions and was later called up for Schalk Burger, who failed to recover from injury for the first Lions test. Brüssow received a Man-of-the-Match award in the Springboks' win against the All Blacks on 25 July 2009. He featured in the 2009 Currie Cup final, which the Free State Cheetahs lost to the Blue Bulls.

In early March 2010, he injured his cruciate knee-ligament in a Super 14 game against the Hurricanes, keeping him from international rugby until August 2011. For the Cheetahs in the 2011 Super Rugby season, the team finished 11th with five wins and eleven losses, including wins against the Waratahs and Brumbies. In the 2011 Tri-Nations, Brüssow played in the third game against Australia, which South Africa lost 14–9. He then delivered a Man-of-the-Match performance as South Africa beat New Zealand 18–5.

He returned to international competition on 13 August 2011 against Australia, playing from the bench. On 20 August, he gave a Man-of-the-Match display as the Springboks defeated the All Blacks in Port Elizabeth.

Influential Games

On 20 June 2009, Brüssow replaced the injured Schalk Burger in the starting line-up against the British and Irish Lions. His ball-stealing and recovering skills proved too much for the Lions; he scored a try from the back of a maul and was outstanding as South Africa secured a 2–1 series victory. On 27 June 2009, he came on in the 62nd minute and effected crucial turnovers, helping seal a 28–25 win. On 25 July 2009, against the All Blacks, he battled competently against Richie McCaw, making crucial turnovers and tackles, and was named Man-of-the-Match in a 28–19 victory.

On 1 August 2009, he again competed with McCaw at the breakdown, making turnovers, tackles, and powerful runs as the Boks won 31–19. On 8 August 2009, his ruck work, hits, and ball-carrying led South Africa to victory over Australia; his opposite number George Smith received a yellow card. On 13 November 2009, despite South Africa losing 20–13 to France, Brüssow kept the Springboks in the match with vital turnovers and tackles, and was named SA Rugby young player of the year.

Injury

Brüssow suffered a cruciate knee-ligament injury during the Cheetahs' 28–12 win over the Hurricanes in the Super 14, ruling him out for the rest of the season. The injury was expected to keep him out for eight months, meaning he would miss the defence of the Tri-Nations title and was unlikely to make the end-of-year tour of Britain and Ireland. Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske called him irreplaceable and a once-in-a-lifetime player.