IAN MCGEECHAN might well have good cause to thank his Springbok rival Peter de Villiers for leaving out the Cheetahs’ back row man Heinrick Brussow from his 28-man squad to face the British & Irish Lions this month.

Cheetahs 24 British & Irish Lions 26

Shaun Edwards admitted the sinbinning of Stephen Ferris had been the turning point after the British and Lions scraped home to a 26-24 win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.