Lions in SA
Lions wary of Brüssow
2009-07-01 22:21
Email | Print
Stephen NellJohannesburg – The British and Irish Lions realise that Heinrich Brüssow's most likely inclusion in the Springbok starting team will make their job more difficult on Saturday in the third Test at Coca-Cola Park.
Brüssow is expected to wear South Africa's No 6 jersey after Schalk Burger was sent home after being suspended for eight weeks. The Bok flank was cited for making contact with the eye area of Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald in an alleged eye gouging incident.
"We have played against Brüssow a few times on tour and there is no doubt in my mind that he is an excellent player," said the Lions captain Paul O'Connell.
"He was brilliant each time he played against us. A lot of attention will be paid to breakdowns over the next few days in our camp."
The Lions could decide to use the Welsh openside flanker Martyn Williams as a counter for Brüssow.
O'Connell said the team was determined to be successful in the third Test. They started training again on Wednesday after a taking a few days off to lick their wounds.
"We had three days to cope with the series defeat. The guys are now looking forward to the third Test and are determined to finish well. I would very much have liked to sit here with a series score of 1-1 but that is how life is," said O'Connell.
"I was very proud of our performance in the second Test. We were very unlucky and that is what makes me positive about this weekend. But I can’t deny the fact that we were here to play well and to win."
"It doesn't help if you play well but you lose. It is disappointing that we are trailing by 0-2. I think we can step up the intensity. The guys are enthusiastic and I don't see why there would be a problem," O'Connell said.
"It is still an opportunity to again wear the Lions jersey. Passion and emotion remain a big part of the game. It will be the same as every other week."
O'Connell said the Lions didn't want to use negative emotion from the Burger incident as motivation.
"That's over now and he will not be a factor on the field. We are really eager to prove a point. To be trailing by 0-2 in the series doesn't tell the real story."