Heinrich Brüssow
Heinrich Wilhelm Brüssow (born 21 July 1986 in Bloemfontein, South Africa) is a South African rugby union footballer. He plays for the Free State Cheetahs provincial team, Cheetahs in the international Super Rugby competition and the Springboks. His usual position is open-side flanker.
Career
Heinrich Brüssow attended Grey College in Bloemfontein where he played in the First XV and was later selected for the Under-18 Free State Craven Week side. Brüssow was part of the Free State Cheetahs squad who shared the Currie Cup glory in 2006 with the Blue Bulls, before playing in the 2007 Currie Cup final against the Golden Lions, scoring a crucial try and helping the team to a 20-18 win. In 2008 he was voted best open-side flanker in the Super 14 and Currie Cup. This earned him a call-up to the Springboks squad for the November 2008 tour to the British Isles. He only played the final 4 minutes in the end-of-tour test against England.
In 2009, Brüssow was again a flanker in the Super 14 competition. However, selectors excluded him from the Springboks squad. Soon afterwards he played for the Free State Cheetahs against the British and Irish Lions team; Brüssow was finally called up for Schalk Burger, who failed to recover from an injury for the first test against the Lions.[2][3] He received the Man-of-the-Match award in the Springboks' win against the All Blacks on the 25 July 2009.[4] Brüssow once again featured in a Currie Cup final in 2009, but the Free State Cheetahs lost to a hungry Blue Bulls team.
Early March 2010 Brüssow's career took a blow when he injured his cruciate knee-ligament[5] in a Super 14 game against the Hurricanes, which kept him from international rugby till August 2011.
He returned to international competition on the 13th of August 2011 against Australia where he played for a short stint from the bench where he showed he still has all the ability that made him so popular in 2009.[6] On the 20th of August 2011 Heinrich Brüssow gave a Man-of-the-Match display of his skills as the Springboks managed to defeat arch-nemesis New Zealand All Blacks in Port Elizabeth.[7]
Squads
Influential Games
2009
- 20 June 2009 : South Africa vs British and Irish Lions I: Heinrich Brüssow replaces injured Schalk Burger in the starting line-up. His ball-stealing and recovering skills proved too much for the Lions. When he was replaced in the second half, the Lions managed to fight back, but not enough to win the game. Scored a try from the back of a maul.
- 27 June 2009 : South Africa vs Lions II: Brüssow came on in the 62nd minute and effected a few crucial turn-overs helping seal the 28-25 victory for the South Africans.
- 25 July 2009 : South Africa vs All Blacks I: Although being targeted, Brüssow battled competently against Richie McCaw, who is widely considered the best open-side flanker in the world. He made a number of crucial turn-overs and tackles. He was named Man-of-the-Match in the 28-19.
- 1 August 2009 : South Africa vs All Blacks II: Continuing to build on his reputation, Brüssow again managed to compete with the All Black captain Richie McCaw at the breakdown. He once again made a number of crucial turnovers, tackles and powerful runs as the Boks won 31-19
- 8 August 2009 : South Africa vs Wallabies I: Brüssow was once again in outstanding form for the Springboks as his ruck work, brutal hits and ball-carrying led South Africa to victory over Australia. His opposite number George Smith, also considered one of the best in world rugby, could not cut it with Brüssow, and his frustration led to a yellow card.
- 13 November 2009 : South Africa vs France: It was a grey evening for the men in green, as they were out-muscled by France 20-13. Brüssow, though, stood up and kept the Springboks in the match with several vital turnovers and tackles. Even though it was a defeat, the match in Toulouse was considered Brüssow's best in a test jersey up to that point.
2011
- 20 August 2011: After a lengthy injury lay off Heinrich Brüssow returned to the international stage in the Springboks final two Tri Nations matches of the 2011 season. After a short stint against Australia (13 August 2011), he played a full game against New Zealand All Blacks. With a first-off whitewash on the cards, Brüssow's fetching skills would be vital, in order for the Boks to gain some momentum before the (RWC World Cup 2011). Brüssow delivered a Man-of-the-Match winning performance. One that saw him make some fantastic and crucial turnovers, immense tackles and ball carries while going through an enormous amount of donkey work and taking a boot to the face for his efforts. Brüssow ended the game with a bloodied, pockmarked face and bandage, but most probably assured his place in Peter De Villiers' plans for rugby's greatest stage in New Zealand. (RWC World Cup 2011)
Tournament Winner Medals
Awards
- 2009[1]
- SA Rugby Young Player of the Year
- Provincial Player of the Castle SA 2009 Lions Series
- {nominee} SA Player of the Year
- 2008[1]
- {nominee} Sasol Young Player of the Year
- {nominee} ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year
References
External links
| Persondata |
| Name |
Brussouw, Heinrich |
| Alternative names |
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| Short description |
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| Date of birth |
21 July 1986 |
| Place of birth |
Bloemfontein, South Africa |
| Date of death |
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| Place of death |
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