Brussow to go under the knife again

Heinrich Brussow will miss South Africa’s year-end tour to Europe after it was discovered the flanker needs further surgery to rectify a long-term knee problem.

The Cheetahs forward, who picked up the injury during the Super 14 season earlier this year, had an operation at the time, but after being assessed during a recent Springbok training camp, he was advised to undergo another.

A statement from the South African Rugby Union (SARU) said the move was a long-term one to “ensure he is 100% fit and available for the 2011 season, which includes the Rugby World Cup”.

And it added: “The player ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, tore both the lateral and medial meniscus, and tore the medial collateral ligament and medial capsule.

“Surgery on the major structures of the knee was successful but Springbok and Cheetahs medical staff have agreed that a follow-up operation is required to guarantee Brussow’s long-term recovery, and to prevent further risk to damaging the successfully reconstructed cruciate ligament.”

Brussow, capped 13 times for his country, will go under the knife later today.