Brussow vs Burger?

by Paki's Corner | 06 November 2009 (06:03)
I almost fell off my chair when I heard that Peter de Villiers had dropped Springbok flanker Heinrich Brüssow! It was not only out of the blue, but in my opinion an absolute shocker, one you could only expect from the walking book of proverbs.

Then I read something very interesting: “I was impressed with the Bok pack during the home leg of the Tri Nation, and the only change I would make is Schalk Burger for Heinrich Brüssow. While Brüssow has done well for the Boks this season, Burger’s inclusion would make the team stronger. I wouldn’t consider playing Burger and Brüssow in the same loose trio. They are very similar players, and Juan Smith has done a brilliant job in the number 7 jersey. Why break up a world-class loose trio just because you want to find space for Brüssow?” – Jake White (from the September 2009 issue of SA Rugby Magazine)

Even though Pierre Spies has now been ruled out of the Springbok end of year tour, Brüssow looks to have been moved aside for the Incredible Hulk. While I do like Burger (cue that hit on Fourie du Preez during the Currie Cup semi final), Brüssow offers a lot more on the deck especially in today’s ruck orientated game.

What do you think readers? I suspect Brüssow will warm the bench much to the delight of opposition packs. Richie McCaw must be laughing at the news…

There has been plenty of rugby in the last couple of weeks, including a thrilling Currie Cup final. The Bulls looked unstoppable in the first stanza, and when “Western Province’s” Bryan Habana scored his second, thanks to yet another brilliant piece of genius from Fourie du Preez, I thought it was all over. But the Cheetahs came back superbly with flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter proving that he is not a one-match wonder. Congratulations to the Bulls Rugby Union for another well deserved trophy!

The November tours are super exciting, and from what I see in the media England (as expected) are already complaining about injuries. I back Australia to end their losing streak this weekend, and the All Blacks to inflict some damage against the Welsh.

Meanwhile in the USA, National Team Coach Eddie O’Sullivan officially announced the pool of players for the upcoming Rugby World Cup Qualifier matches against Uruguay.

The United States will play Uruguay in a home-and-away two match qualifier series starting on November 14 in Montevideo (Uruguay) and then again one week later at Broward County Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida on November 21. Super 14 and Currie Cup player Todd Clever returns to lead his country in these massive qualifiers, with Saracens fullback Chris Wyles and Biarritz speedster Taku Ngwenya also returning for duty.

Forwards:
Todd Clever (Golden Lions), Pat Danahy (Life University), J.J. Gaganio (FC Roma), Nic Johnson (Denver Barbarians RFC), Will Johnson (Oxford University), Brian McClenahan (Olympic Club), Mate Moeakiola (Pearl City RFC), Alec Parker (Gentlemen of Aspen), Shawn Pittman (Bayside RFC), Hayden Smith (Saracens), Jacob Sprague (Mystic River RFC), Louis Stanfill (New York Athletic Club Rugby), Phil Thiel (Life University), John Van Der Giessen (Sporting Club Albigeois).

Backs:
Cory Blair (Huntington Beach RFC), Paul Emerick (Parma FC) Mike Hercus (Gold Coast Stingrays), Nese Malifa (Belmont Shore RFC), Taku Ngwenya (Biarritz Olympic), Mike Petri (New York Athletic Club Rugby), Junior Sifa (Midleton RFC), Roland Suniula (Pearl City RFC), Kevin Swiryn (Old Puget Sound Beach RFC), AlipateTuilevuka (Provo Steelers), Tim Usasz (Nottingham RFC), Chris Wyles (Saracens).

Almost forgot- Springboks to scrape through against Leicester but Earl Rose scoring most of Leicester’s points! Dallen

Dallen Stanford played 54 matches for the USA 7s team throughout his career spanning from 2006 to 2009, including 13 IRB 7s tournament appearances. To read other articles by the South African visit


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Comments

by James Swindells November 6, 2009 13:50 GMT
Just when you think mr Devilliers has calmed down you read a shocker like this. Brussow IMHO was the man of the recent trinations, he countered the AB and Aussie players well and won a lot of ball that the Boks normally would not have gotten. To leave him out is a scandal. Schalk is a very good player with immense physical impact, but the modern game needs someone like Brussow. If the trend continues ( the selection process was poor and once again smacks of quotas) SA will lose an aweful lot of players to the NH game in the future. Wake up P DV and use the best players for the job!!
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by Frank the Tank November 6, 2009 15:04 GMT
I am a gigantic brussow fan... but ... keep in mind that in the last Tri-Nations game Brussow did not make a big impact. He certainly was not winning as much (i.e. a ridiculous amount) of turnover ball as he normally does. Its certainly possible that opposition sides are figuring out how to negate him which might explain his exclusion. I really see Schalk as a free-ranging bruising destroyer with an incredibly high work rate whereas Heinrich is more of a clinical fetcher. Schalk tends to get all over the park shutting down the offense by tackling everything but giving away penalties in the process of doing so. While Heinrich doesnt appear to be as omnipresent as Schalk, when he does make a tackle, he almost always pinches the ball, or gets his hands on it thereby greatly slowly down the oppositions ability to recycle the ball. This often results in penalties awarded to the opposition which is perfect when you have Morne Steyn ready to kick them over. Another option that might work well, is have Schalk soften them up and when the opposition pack is getting tired and slower to the rucks, bring on Heinrich and let him loose on the turnover ball.
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by Greg Magennis November 6, 2009 20:23 GMT
Brussow is the inform player and while Schalk has a "reputation" he has not performed well at all in the past 2 years. Head to head, Brussow will run circles around Schalk today - He has youth and pure "love of the game" in his arsenal versus Schalk being at the end of his career. Schalk also has a nasty side that can appear at any point in a game and when this happens it impacts the whole team negatively as they all want to support each other irrespective. Brussow does not get sucked into off-the-ball chenanegans as his ego is not that big - he is very humble and is just interested in the ball. Brussow won the game for the Cheetahs against the Sharks in the Currie Cup Semi and one could argue that had it not been for his ball stealing we would not be Tr-Nations Champions today. Youth, passion, tremendous power, and a dose of humilty add up to way more than Schalk could ever deliver at this stage in his career. My recommnedation is that Schalk should go and make some foreign currency while he still can and let the younger more talented guys get the experience they need ahead of the next world cup.
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by A.C. Smit November 7, 2009 20:37 GMT
lol, goodbye mr. brussow. ps, this is hilarious
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by Paki's Corner November 8, 2009 21:41 GMT
James, to leave out Brussow is a scandal indeed! As you said correctly there are some very suspect selection decisions for the November tour, much to the delight of the Leicester players and fans!
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by Paki's Corner November 8, 2009 21:45 GMT
Frank the Tank, I definitely agree that Schalk is the Hulk on the field and puts doubt in the opposition at ruck time but far too often lately giving away points. In today's game where penalties win matches, I would rather have a player who gets us points, especially with the Steyn 'brothers' on form!
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by Paki's Corner November 8, 2009 21:54 GMT
Greg, all valid points, and I am definitely a supporter! It was strange though that Jake White wrote that article recently about Burger...
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by Alfred Thomas November 9, 2009 00:18 GMT
Schalk is good for a few yellow's and a red card, but otherwise basically just putting his fingers in someones eyes. He might be stronger, but with all that "power" comes great responsibility ... or the need of brains, which I think hulk is lacking, and for that reason alone I would put about 7 to 8 other players in the Bok team before even considering Schalk Smalk. Brussows have at least some smarts and talent.
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by Stefan Labuschagne November 9, 2009 15:05 GMT
Brussow wins as many balls and more as Schalck does, and never gets yellow carded. Take Brussow any day above Schalck
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by Paki's Corner November 10, 2009 16:14 GMT
Alre and Stefan: great comments, and I see that Burger and Brussow have been named in the starting line-up against France! This will be very interesting, with a couple of other changes forced with players moving overseas.
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