Rugby | South Africa recalls Brussow for NZ, 1st test in 4 years

Hamstrung by injuries, South Africa recalled flanker Heinrich Brussow yesterday for his first test in four years among three changes to the starting 15 to face New Zealand.
Brussow last played for the Springboks at the 2011 Rugby World Cup under former coach Peter de Villiers.
He was returned to the No. 6 jersey by coach Heyneke Meyer, replacing the injured Marcell Coetzee. Lock Lood de Jager came in for Victor Matfield, who was also injured.
The other change to the starting lineup was a positional switch, with Francois Louw swapping to the No. 7 flank to make way for Brussow. Schalk Burger was confirmed as stand-in captain in place of Matfield, and will play a second straight test out of position at No. 8.
Brussow’s recall was a major surprise by Meyer after he wasn’t part of South Africa’s larger squad for its season-opener against a World XV or for the loss in Australia last weekend in the first round of the Rugby Championship.
Brussow broke his arm during the Super Rugby season. He hasn’t been part of Meyer’s test plans since the coach took over in 2012, but “played his way into contention,” Meyer said.
“Heinrich has been great this season before he got injured … he deserves an opportunity.”
South Africa made five changes on the bench, bringing in prop Vincent Koch, who could make his first test appearance, and recalling another front-rower, Trevor Nyakane, and loose forward Warren Whiteley. Lock Flip van der Merwe and wing Cornal Hendricks were also drafted into the squad, and went straight into the reserves for Saturday.
Top-ranked New Zealand rested flyhalf Daniel Carter and center Sonny Bill Williams for the Rugby Championship game at Ellis Park, leaving them at home for the fixture the All Blacks lost last season for their first defeat in two years. That’s still the All Blacks’ only loss since 2012.
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen will name his team on Thursday for the meeting between rugby’s No. 1- and No. 2-ranked teams, with the Highlanders’ Super Rugby-winning flyhalf Lima Sopoaga possibly in line to make his test debut. AP

South Africa lineup

Willie le Roux, JP Pietersen, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Bryan Habana, Handre Pollard, Ruan Pienaar; Schalk Burger (captain), Francois Louw, Heinrich Brussow, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Koch, Flip van der Merwe, Warren Whiteley, Cobus Reinach, Pat Lambie, Cornal Hendricks.