Heinrich Brüssow

Heinrich Brüssow

Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	100 kg (220 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 2006- Free State () Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 2007- Cheetahs () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2009- South Africa

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 and in the international Super 14 competition. His usual position is as an open-side flanker. Brüssow is 1.76m and 100kg.

He attended Grey College in Bloemfontein where he played first team and was later selected for the u18 Free State Craven Week side.

In 2008 he made big waves by being the best open-side flanker in the Super 14 and Currie Cup. This earned him a call-up to the Springboks squad for the November tour to the British and Irish Isles. Unfortunately he only played the final 4 minutes in the end-of-tour test against England.

In 2009 Heinrich continued his incredible form by once again being the premier flanker in the Super 14 competition. This was unfortunately not enough for the Springbok selectors, who excluded him from the Springboks squad. He played for the Free State Cheetahs against the British and Irish Lions team and proofed his exclusion was a mistake. The fairy tale continued when he was finally called up for Schalk Burger, who failed to recover from an injury for the first test against the British and Irish Lions.

Since then his reputation continued to climb with each test. Also receiving the Man-of-the-Match award in the Springboks' win against the All Blacks on the 25th of July 2009.

Squads

• 2009
  • Springboks squad
  • Vodacom Free State Cheetahs ( British and Irish Lions Tour match)
  • Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 14)

• 2008
  • Springboks spring tour squad
  • Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
  • Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 14)

• 2007
  • Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (Vodacom Cup)
  • Vodacom Free State Cheetahs(ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
  • Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 14)

• 2006
  • Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
  • Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (Vodacom Cup)

• 2005
  • Free State (SA Under 19)

• 2004
  • Free State (U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week)

Influential Games

• 2009
  • 20th of June 2009 : South Africa vs British and Irish Lions I: Hienrich Brüssow replaces injured Schalk Burger in the starting line-up. His ball stealing and recovering skills proofed too much for the BI Lions. When he was replaced in the second half, the Lions managed to fight back, but not enough to win the game.
  • 27th of June 2009 : South Africa vs British and Irish Lions II: Heinrich Brüssow came on in the 62nd minute and effected a few crucial turn-overs helping seal the 28-25 victory for the South Africans.
  • 25th of July 2009 : South Africa vs All Blacks I: Although being targeted, Heinrich Brüssow managed to outplay Richie McCaw, who was previously 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.
  • 1st of August 2009 : South Africa vs All Blacks II: Continuing building on his reputation Heinrich Brüssow again outplayed the All Black captain Richie McCaw at the breakdown. He once again made a number of crucial turnovers, tackles and powerful runs.

Awards

• 2008
  • Sasol Young Player of the Year nominee
  • ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year nominee

External links

• Vodacom Cheetahs profile
• Official SA Rugby site: Profile of Heinrich Brüssow
• Genslin.us: Springbok Hall of Fame
• ESPN Scrum.com Profile
• SARugby.com Profile
• Sky Sport Profile
• Planet Rugby Profile
• Daylife.com News, photos and quotes
• Zimbio news,information and photos