Pocket-size Brussow fits the bill

IN the professional environment of a rugby-mad country where bulk is almost a condition of employment, Heinrich Brussow doesn’t quite fit the bill.

But the 23-year-old has certainly bucked the trend, and in South African rugby circles he is now spoken of with the same tone of endearment normally reserved for infinitely heavier and taller predecessors.

Since his sudden elevation for the three Test series against the British and Irish Lions in June of this year, Brussow has given the World Cup holders something other back row contenders for the Springboks haven’t always provided – almost total dominance in the crucial area of rucking.

When Brussow is asked to name players whom he modelled his game upon there isn’t a sign of a South African. Instead, this 5’11” inch (a tad less than 16 stone) bundle of energy looked for inspiration to England’s Neil Back and Australian George Smith.

Over time, he watched in awe as to how both players managed to compete and prosper in the international game. He watched, learned and was inspired, so that when his chance came he was ready to pounce and not leave the opportunity go.

That instinct to be opportunistic is another of the lessons he learned over the years, because Brussow is firmly convinced that chances might come but once in a lifetime. When they do, he believes one must be ready.

An example is how he wore the disappointment of being excluded from the original Springboks squad named to play the British and Irish Lions series.

He takes up the story: “I was hoping to get the call but it didn’t happen, so the only thing I could hope for was to put in a good performance for the Cheetahs (Free State) against the Lions. As it happened I did OK (a gross understatement), Schalk (Burger) got injured and I was called into the squad and I haven’t looked back. It was just good fortune at the start but I had to perform to keep my place.”

A year ago opponents looked at ways and means of keeping Burger under wraps; nowadays they have to contend with two back-row destroyers, each of them capable of competing vigorously for possession on the ground but also ready and able to cause problems with ball in hand.

He reckons he might experience both sides of the game against Ireland at Croke Park tomorrow as he noted: “It certainly is a different style of game up here (northern hemisphere); part of that is probably down to the weather. I suppose we try to keep the ball in hand a bit more, (whereas) it’s pretty physical here.

“Certainly, the weather is something we are trying to come to terms with but we won’t make any excuses if things go wrong – it is the same for both sides on the day.

“Still, we don’t experience this kind of wind and rain that often; maybe once a year in the Cape. But we can only control the things we should be able to control.”

One of those, he hopes, will be the breakdown. “I’ve got used to working hard at that aspect of the game and I suppose it suits my physique. Still, I wouldn’t like to think that is my only strength; I have been working on many other aspects of my game with an eye to improvement,” he said.

Brussow is certain that Ireland will provide a stern examination of his skills and he goes into the game forewarned, having come up against all three Irish back rowers during the Lions tour.

“I played against (Stephen) Ferris, (Jamie) Heaslip and (David) Wallace and each of them are powerful and influential figures in their own right; they won’t shirk the physicality but they’re also very skilful and have the experience to go with those attributes.”

The hurt of losing to France is still evident in the South African camp according to Brussow: “It was our aim to go through this tour unbeaten and of course that was disappointing. However, it also made us look at ourselves, at the reasons why we lost and at ways we could improve. France played better than us and deserved to win, but I’m confident that it will have made us a better team.

“Already, we have put the lessons to good use with the win over Italy and we see the Irish game as an opportunity to move further along and also to finish what has been a very long season on a high.

“It won’t be easy, we have a great degree of respect for the Irish and the players who have been to the forefront of the game over the last few years. They are capable of breaking down even the tightest of defences; they’re well organised as a unit and bring great passion. We saw how France brought passion when they beat us so we will be well warned.”