Jóhann Thormählen

Bloemfontein – Springbok rugby has suffered a major setback with the news that flanker Heinrich Brüssow will not play rugby again this year.

The industrious flanker tore knee ligaments in the dying moments of the Cheetahs’ Super 14 match against the Hurricanes on Saturday and will be out for eight months.

Brüssow had been shutting up his critics, who believed he would be less effective because of the stricter interpretation of the laws at the breakdowns.

The fetching flank showed with his work-rate over the past two weeks that he does a lot more than just steal possession from opponents.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské said that Brüssow would only be available again for next year’s Super 15.

South Africa are in the privileged position of having Schalk Burger available and he can still form an outstanding loose-trio with Juan Smith and Pierre Spies.

The national selectors can also look at Deon Stegmann from the Bulls, who is one of the most under-rated fetching flanks in South African rugby.

Brüssow, 23, has played 13 Tests for his country and was crowned as South Africa’s young player of the year for 2009.

Local rugby scribes also voted him the provincial player of the British and Irish Lions tour.

He was one of the Cheetahs’ biggest stars against the Hurricanes.

Drotské said that the injury was a big setback and that Brüssow was irreplaceable.