Free State Cheetahs back row star Heinrick Brussow has warned the Springboks to expect a tough time when they meet the British & Irish Lions in the three-Test Castle Series.
Brussow was controversially left out of the 28 man Springbok squad and gave the Lions a master class in stealing the ball at the breakdown as his tireless work enabled the Cheetahs to claw their way back from a 20 point deficit to within two at the end.
“The Lions used their forwards a lot more than we see in Super 14 rugby and they built up a lot of phases,” said Brussow.
“They are a really good side and they are going to give the Springboks a hard game. We targeted the breakdown in order not to allow them to get on the front foot.
“When we got that interception try, and saw that long range drop goal go just wide, we all got very excited. We were working hard to try to get another drop goal chance and we were all very disappointed when we conceded that penalty at the death.”
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske gave Lions prop Andrew Sheridan a big boost after the game by describing him as “one of the strongest loose heads in the world”.
Sheridan was at the heart of a superb Lions scrum and saw off two opponents by the end of the game.
“Andrew is a really good scrummager and he can destroy an opposition scrum. I was proud of the effort my players put in, but Andrew is definitely one of the strongest loose heads in the world,” said Drotske.
“The way to play against the Lions is to make sure they don’t build momentum in their game. We were in their faces and tackling them hard.”
