Heinrich: Burger still Boks’ best
6 Jun 2009
Heinrich Brüssow is not bitter about his Springbok squad omission and maintains Schalk Burger is the best No 6 in the country.
Brüssow was the Cheetahs’ star player in their narrow 26-24 defeat to the British & Irish Lions on Saturday. The opensider scored some crucial turnovers that saved the hosts’ skins on several occasions, and made countless tackles to further stall the tourists’ momentum.
There was an understandable outcry when Brüssow was left out of the 28-man Bok squad named on Monday. Burger is the only opensider in that squad, and it’s clear coach Peter de Villiers is determined to use him as much as possible in the three Tests.
‘Schalk is the best loosie in the world and probably one of the best players on the planet,’ the humble hero told keo.co.za. ‘It’s just great to know we have a lot of depth in this country. The [Bok] squad we have is a really good squad, and I’m looking forward to the Test series against the Lions.’
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske said Brüssow was a special player, but it’s unfortunate he’s competing with Burger for the national No 6 shirt.
‘He did some great work at the breakdown and put us into positions to counterattack,’ Drotske said. ‘Heinrich is young and he will get his chance.
‘All three of our loose forwards did well in this game. We said from the beginning that we had to attack them at the breakdown and not allow them any momentum.
‘During the Super 14 we did well when got in the opposition’s face. You could see the guys were really up for it on this occasion.’
Jacques-Louis Potgieter and Louis Strydom missed three penalties between them while Strydom missed a drop-goal attempt at the death. Drotske admitted the Cheetahs’ goalkicking let them down.
‘We gave away some soft tries at the beginning of the game and missed a few penalties. It was the same in the Super 14, we’d miss a few opportunities or concede a few tries to lose the match.
‘We sent the message out [to Louis Strydom at the end of the match] to have another crack if we got close to their posts. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the momentum to get into a position to do so and what that last penalty was for I couldn’t see.’
The Cheetahs were pulverised in the scrums and Drotske suggested the Boks will have their work cut out come the Test series.
‘I’d love to see the video again because I couldn’t see why there were so many penalties against us. But I’ve always said Andrew Sheridan is one of the best looseheads in the world and I’m proud of the way my guys did against their scrum.’
By Jon Cardinelli, at Vodacom Park
45 Comments
6 Jun 2009, 18:56 pm
What is the guy supposed to say ffs? I AM THE BEST… which would make the coach never ever pick him and make him sound like a numb nut or simply be the bigger person and let it go.
Dumb article really.
6 Jun 2009, 19:26 pm
Brussouw will go overseas at some point if he’s not picked! The inept management of SA rugby is destroying our talent – why in ******’s name aren’t Kirchner, Kockott and Brussouw in the Bok team?!
6 Jun 2009, 19:26 pm
He’s being humble, we all know who the better player is..
The boks will pay for not playing him and will pay even more if they play Australia and NZ without him. Last year we got murdered at the breakdown during the trinations, we kept on losing our own ball and turnovers were totally inexistant. Burger was just a headless ineffective chicken.
6 Jun 2009, 19:27 pm
Saw the interview with him post-match.
Seems like an awesome guy, not to mention an awesome player.
Yeah he’s young, his chance will come
Player-wise SA is in great shape, not too sure about some of our coaches though
6 Jun 2009, 19:30 pm
Burger in form is the much better player. Burger is better than McCaw when the refs stay off his back.
6 Jun 2009, 19:33 pm
Affraid Burger is all sound and fury signifying nothing. Play Brussouw and bring Burger on as an impact player in the last 15 minutes.
6 Jun 2009, 19:38 pm
#6 allamapstieks: who was the best SA player in the two tests in NZ last season?
6 Jun 2009, 19:42 pm
this is one of the bullsh!t keo articles…i don’t care what brussouw says to endear himself to the establishment…can the jon cardinellis of this world do a proper analysis of burger’s abilities and the come & tell us what they think…quotes are useless @this point!
6 Jun 2009, 19:44 pm
7. Jean de Villiers
6 Jun 2009, 19:46 pm
the stats beg to differ
6 Jun 2009, 19:47 pm
#9 allamapstieks:
6 Jun 2009, 19:54 pm
#9 allamapstieks: correction, Schalk Burger, were it not for him, SA wouldn’t have been in either game. Even the Kiwis were on here praising him and they don’t give out praise easily.
Schalk may not always do it for WP, but boy does he do it in a Bok shirt.
6 Jun 2009, 20:02 pm
Look I love Burger, but he is not in form, AND we have two other powerful ball carriers in the backrow.
The Lions clearly have a weakness not having a fetching type of player in the mould of Brussouw.
The All Blacks are much better at us at giving recognition to form.
Play Burger as an impact player when the opposition is tired. Play Brussouw first to get us ball.
6 Jun 2009, 20:06 pm
#13 allamapstieks: who doesn’t? But as you said, his form is lacking. Maybe he’s tierd? I could understand that.
6 Jun 2009, 20:07 pm
#2 Crouching Tiger Hidden Bokke: I agree with you sentiments, Tiger, but please leave the Name out of your swearing. Thanks !
6 Jun 2009, 20:09 pm
This lad is changing my perceptions on game play daily.
He was massive today, as he was during the S14.
He is doing it for the small okes currently, and good on him.
Change the way we play, and then change our loosies, and when that happens Heinrich is an absolute shoe-in.
6 Jun 2009, 20:11 pm
#16 PissAnt: size is not everything
and people need to lose the idea that it is
6 Jun 2009, 20:11 pm
schalk burger is a legend!brussow your time will come but for know you can only learn from the master.
6 Jun 2009, 20:23 pm
#17 SpringbokSarah:
When I talk about game play size is not even considered. It is not about size.
When I talk about doing it for the small okes (of which i was one) then its more about perceptions.
I will still pick Schalk ahead of Heinrich but that is simply based on game play, not perceptions (like he is too small).
6 Jun 2009, 20:28 pm
#19 PissAnt: ok then
6 Jun 2009, 20:34 pm
#20 SpringbokSarah:
I reckon though…
When PDV does achieve what he set out to do (playing heads-up rugby) a Heinrich will be invaluable, and a Schalla will be baggage – a most of our current crop.
6 Jun 2009, 20:34 pm
#12 Big Hit:
exactly
6 Jun 2009, 20:37 pm
#21 PissAnt: Will he have the time? Wasn’t his contract only for 2 years?
6 Jun 2009, 20:53 pm
#8 Transformation: Trrransie, all you ever do is seem to complain about the articles on this website. If you don’t like them, don’t bother visiting and find yourself another site more suitable to your requirements. Seems simple really, but jeez, quit the complaining!
6 Jun 2009, 20:57 pm
Brussouw has passed the first test of non Bok selection. Play a blinder and say the right things afterwards.
Davidson and Britz are the two most notable failures in this regard over the last few years.
Bok selection cannot be far away for this bloke he is a great player and he has just proved that he is nobodys idiot either. Natural talent and intelligence have to be the most important aspects of any test players make up and Brossouw has proved he has oodles of both.
6 Jun 2009, 20:58 pm
#12 Big Hit: Schalk Burger is a really good player. No question about it. Unfortunately, he is not an opensider in my opinion, the way he plays is more akin to a blindside flank. As a consequence our loose trio is completely imbalanced – in last year’s Tri-Nations the Boks were completely outmuscled at the tackle point.
If Burger absolutely had to play then I’d play him at 7 with Brussouw at 6 and Spies at 8.
Further, Burger has done himself no favours with his dismal S14 form this year. If he doesn’t pick up form NOW then it will be difficult to continue to justify Brussouw’s exclusion.
6 Jun 2009, 22:40 pm
#21 PissAnt:
Heads up rugby is totally rubbish anology.
no proffessional sporting side can go onto a field without a plan.( You can bet that even Barcelona had a plan)
And anyway,I’d say this is possibly the “smartest” crop of players SA has produced in a generation.
We just have to pick the correct ones.Selection was always the better part of coaching.
As for Burger, his best performances have always been for the Boks, he was getting some form towards the back end of the S14, come test match time he will be chomping at the bit.Don’t ever underestimate the destruction and energy he adds to the Bok pack.
I’d definately have Brussow on the bench though. Along with 3 other forwards.A prop,a hooker and a lock.
6 Jun 2009, 22:42 pm
#26 wooden spoon:
I’d say the Bok performnces last year had more to do with a new coaching set up and understanding than anything to do with spicific players…..especially proven test match winners.
6 Jun 2009, 22:47 pm
#27 St.Petersburgbok:
Well my definition of ‘heads-up’ rugby is obviously different from yours.
The fact that it has no structure or plan is an absolute myth
6 Jun 2009, 22:55 pm
#29 PissAnt:
Would you describe the Boks as 1 dimensional?
6 Jun 2009, 22:56 pm
Both should be in the team
6 Jun 2009, 23:12 pm
#30 St.Petersburgbok:
No, but I would say they are limited.
6 Jun 2009, 23:13 pm
I am out though – night all – and tough luck Cheetahs.
7 Jun 2009, 01:27 am
To go in without Brussouw would be myopic and potentially dangerous, tantamount to not having a kicker in 1997. Others have said this and it is true. PDV, Muir, Jooste beware. Do the right thing. The reflections to you are clear. Don’t let the whispers turn to shouts.
7 Jun 2009, 02:19 am
Be aware = beware
7 Jun 2009, 03:14 am
#26 wooden spoon: Boks losing out at the tackle point was under the free-kick ELVs and they weren’t outmuscled, they just didn’t get to the breakdown first and when they did finally get there the referee penalised them. The ELVs are gone now however and the refs seem more sensible.
7 Jun 2009, 05:02 am
The Boks should play:
6. Brussouw
7. Burger
8. Spies
Burger proved last in the last two years that he is not a fetcher, but still cannot be left out of the team.
7 Jun 2009, 06:20 am
burger in a bok jumper and playing in position edges brussow. I still think brussow should be in the squad. he is a little unlucky and is a star player.
7 Jun 2009, 07:36 am
Naka, the penalty at the end was clearly for holding on. Don’t try and blame the ref for your team’s lack of precision.
7 Jun 2009, 07:42 am
#4 ekhouvanblou: Lets hope the Cheetahs can keep him in SA. He’s getting a big reputation in a hurry, and exposure like this in a high-profile match against the BIL will only alert more people with larger chequebooks to his abilities. He has a big future there is no doubt. Look at the talent on the fringes of the Bok squad at loose-forward:
Brussouw
Deysel
Watson(!)
Baywatch
Stegmann
Potgieter
All of these guys would make the squad or even the starting lineup of most NH nations. The depth is awesome.
7 Jun 2009, 09:47 am
We won the WC with Scalla, Juan and Danie!! No fetchers there, so why do you want to play Brussow now?
7 Jun 2009, 11:04 am
Big Hit is right. Burger raises his game for Test matches and against the All Blacks in NZ last year, Burger was the only forward who stood out and put his name forward. He was working like a mad man. He probably made 30 odd tackles per match.. That is serious…
7 Jun 2009, 14:40 pm
Look we all know that Burger is a must in the squad and we all know how good Heinrich is. What we should all be irritated with is why they can’t both be in the squad. The covering loosies are Danie and Kanko, great players but same style…Pdv in his rush to get 4 wings into his squad has not left room for more than one open side flank. Now that is just dumb.
Any normal group of selectors would have selected 15 fwds and 13 backs (not 14 and 14 as we have now) and thus had space for him. It makes sense – get him in in case Schalk gets injured or goes poorly.
Of course normal selectors would also have selected a fullback and a tighthead.
Oh well we are not normal are we?
7 Jun 2009, 16:38 pm
This is what the Australian rugby media say about Brussouw in selecting him as the best fetcher in the Super 14:
Heinrich Brussow (Cheetahs): It takes a special player to stand out in the worst team in the tournament, and the scavenging Brussow is exactly that. Left out of the Springboks side to face the Lions in favour of meatier back-rowers, a folly that will cost the South Africans dearly if they repeat it in the Tri Nations.
7 Jun 2009, 16:38 pm
#43 Marino: Couldn’t agree with you more.
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