Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Springbok flank Heinrich Brüssow has complimented his Australian counterpart, David Pocock, ahead of their World Cup quarter-final clash.
Click to BUY the Rugby World Cup 2011 Game for Xbox
Click to BUY the new Drifta Mobile USB Decoder
The Boks tackle the Wallabies at the Wellington Regional Stadium on Sunday.
Brüssow believes the Wallabies' recent loss to Ireland was largely due to Pocock's absence after the openside flanker missed the clash with a stiff back.
"Pocock is a key player for the Wallabies. There wasn't a replacement for him in the group and there is trouble when they lose him," Brüssow told Die Burger newspaper.
"He is one of the best openside flankers in the world. I rate Wales' Sam Warburton highly as well, but it's easier to steal balls early in your Test career.
"Pocock has a lot of experience and according to me he is number one. He has maintained his standard for a few years now and has played 35 Tests.
An enthralling battle thus awaits these two fetchers come Sunday, but the 25-year-old Free Stater says a collective team effort would be needed to master the Australians on the ground.
"You cannot expect one guy to guard a fetcher. The whole side need to be aware of the threat. We just have to be sharp - maybe stay on our feet longer and the guys that clean-out need to get to the ball-carrier quicker."
The Boks face arguably the toughest quarter-final of all the teams, but Brüssow says they like it that way.
"We play against the Wallabies three times a year and prefer them over a team we only play once every couple of seasons."
* Click HERE for the latest RWC odds on BET.CO.ZA
Click to BUY the Rugby World Cup 2011 Game for Xbox
Click to BUY the new Drifta Mobile USB Decoder
The Boks tackle the Wallabies at the Wellington Regional Stadium on Sunday.
Brüssow believes the Wallabies' recent loss to Ireland was largely due to Pocock's absence after the openside flanker missed the clash with a stiff back.
"Pocock is a key player for the Wallabies. There wasn't a replacement for him in the group and there is trouble when they lose him," Brüssow told Die Burger newspaper.
"He is one of the best openside flankers in the world. I rate Wales' Sam Warburton highly as well, but it's easier to steal balls early in your Test career.
"Pocock has a lot of experience and according to me he is number one. He has maintained his standard for a few years now and has played 35 Tests.
An enthralling battle thus awaits these two fetchers come Sunday, but the 25-year-old Free Stater says a collective team effort would be needed to master the Australians on the ground.
"You cannot expect one guy to guard a fetcher. The whole side need to be aware of the threat. We just have to be sharp - maybe stay on our feet longer and the guys that clean-out need to get to the ball-carrier quicker."
The Boks face arguably the toughest quarter-final of all the teams, but Brüssow says they like it that way.
"We play against the Wallabies three times a year and prefer them over a team we only play once every couple of seasons."
* Click HERE for the latest RWC odds on BET.CO.ZA
