The Cheetahs are spending this week training in Jeffreys Bay ahead of next year’s Super 15 and fans will be pleased to see Springbok flank Heinrich Brussow almost fighting fit following a long-term injury, while wing Jongi Nokwe’s prognosis is less positive.
Brussow emerged as a star in 2009 during the British and Irish Lions tour, where his thievery at the breakdown was hailed as a crucial factor in the Springboks series victory.
The 24-year-old suffered a knee injury mid-way through the Super 14 that derailed his season and left the Cheetahs without their premier openside flank.
However, Brussow’s long road to recovery may finally be almost over, which may come as a relief to Bok coach peter de Villiers with the World Cup just around the corner.
“Heinrich has started training again with the guys and should be doing more of the physical work in February,” Cheetahs team manager Eugene van Wyk told rugby365.com.
“Hopefully we will be looking at him from the beginning of the [Super 15] tournament.”
The news is less positive for Springbok flyer Nokwe who is out with cruciate ligament damage that may have a devastating impact on his career.
“It looks like Jongi will be out for a long time because his cruciate ligament injury is serious and he probably won’t play this season,” Van Wyk confirmed.
Nokwe’s injury and the departures of wings Bjorn Basson to the Bulls and Lionel Mapoe to the Lions has left the Cheetahs resources looking rather thin out wide.
The wing shortage has forced the Cheetahs to search for replacements in the pre-season squad in the form of Sevens star Ryno Benjamin and a homecoming for former Cheetah Philip Burger after his stint with Perpignan in the French Top 14.
Having made steady progress in recent Super Rugby campaigns the Bloemfontein outfit will now look to step up their efforts as they have the personnel to fight for a place in the semifinals.
“The Cheetahs tend to play well against the other South African teams and now we must start being more consistent against the Australian and New Zealand sides,” Van Wyk added.
Article courtesy of rugby365.co.za
I heard somewhere that Brussow had to have follow up surgery and that he might be out for the first part of the S15..this is good news for him then.
The Cheetah’s can always play Earl ‘Tiger Wood’ Rose on the wing
@Pokkel (Comment 1) : i heard they are leaving him out of the S15 but those are just rumours just glad we didn’t waist our ponds on him
Well cheets might be ready but our Sharks are ready too bring home the 1st S15 to Sharks Tank
Morgan Newman to wing it
Would Brussouw still be effective with the new law interpretations though?
@Clay..
Did Newman move? Was he not at WP this year?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 6) : Morgan is on trial in bloem, Rassie found him surplus to requirements.The lad did not find out in the best manner either.eish
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 7) :
Do tell: was apparently an heir apparent a few short seasons ago – interested to know what changed down at the Blue Oyster stadion.
He found out while on twitter,Sharksworld was ‘hey dude, congrats on the bloem gig etc etc’ and he was like ‘what are you on about’ after which he went to chat to chief rassie and ja well,now he is in bloem
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 4) : judging on how kak dries strauss was against the baabaas
morgan should be in with a shot…
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 9) :
Thats just downright rude!
Very skillful player: just needs to work on his physicality.
Morgan is a much better player than Paul Bosch!!
Whitehead was also behind Bosch in the pecking order. Unbelievable I tell ya!
@wpw (Comment 12) :
Quite believable actually.
After all, the best scrummie at WP is Duvenage, and the only 10 is de Waal.
@Big Fish (Comment 13) :
Thank goodness De Waal has left the club!!
@Big Fish (Comment 11) : The thing are this Duane, Morgan seemed to lose some of the skills he had and started being more of a crashball player.
I’d be truly amazed if he was the same player this year.
Other players that have been out for an entire season have never really got back to where they were.
Think Andre Snyman, Chester Williams, Bob Skinstad etc.
Same goes for Fourie du Preez.
If I look at how much the game has changed ove rthe last 12 months both these guys are gonna struggle as they’re both playing in highly technical positions.