Brüssow's knee injury long-term
Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:52
Heinrich Brüssow's knee surgery was successful but the Springbok flank will not play again this year.
Brüssow underwent surgery on his left knee on Monday to repair his torn cruciate ligament as well as cartilage damage, and recovery and rehabilitation is expected to take eight or nine months.
The upshot is that he will not recover in time for the Currie Cup or the Springboks' end of year northern hemisphere tour. All going well though, he should make a full recovery and play in the Super 15 next year.
Brüssow injured his knee after the hooter had already sounded in Saturday's 28-12 victory for the Cheetahs over the Hurricanes in Bloemfontein.
"My knee just gave in," Brüssow told Die Volksblad.
He was philosophical about what had happened, saying he felt disappointed but that "these things happen; it's part of the job".
Brüssow was named one of SA's five most promising players of 2008 and then a player of the year finalist in 2009, losing out as player of the year to Fourie du Preez.
Brüssow played such exceptionally effective rugby last year and has been such a stand-out flank in the Super 14 that it is difficult to believe that the Cheetahs can replace him adequately, but Brüssow says that with Ashley Johnson, Hendro Scholtz, Kabamba Floors en Frans Viljoen to back up Juan Smith in the loose forward trio, the Cheetahs will be well served.
Die Volksblad reports that this is not Brüssow's first long-term injury as a torn hamstring kept him out of rugby for six to eight months in his matric year at Grey College in Bloemfontein.
With Brüssow out for the season, there will be an opportunity for other players to compete for the Springbok number six jersey, worn so successfully in 13 Tests by Brüssow.
Stormers' skipper Schalk Burger, rapidly approaching his best form, is the obvious selection while Stormers' teammate Francois Louw and the Bulls' duo of Deon Stegmann and Dewald Potgieter will also bear close scrutiny.
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