Brüssow happy to be benched

Springbok stalwart Heinrich Brüssow is set for another week on the Cheetahs bench, when they travel to Sydney to face the Waratahs.

Following his impressive comeback from injury, in a 30-minute second-half show, in the win against the Highlanders at the weekend, the openside flank is injury free.

"He came through fine," Cheetahs assistant coach Hawies Fourie told this website in a telephone interview from the team's training base in Sydney - when asked about a player that underwent surgery to his shoulder after he suffered an injury in a Currie Cup encounter with Griquas in October.

It was the second time last year that Brüssow was injured. He also missed a spell in the early stages of the Currie Cup season because of a knee injury.

"We are happy with his [Brüssow's] play and after the game he also didn't have any pain or after-effects from the injuries."

Fourie said Brüssow is likely to play off the bench against the Waratahs on Friday.

"He prefers it that way," Fourie told this website, adding: "He wants to gradually work his way back into the game and not rush back. He will come off the bench again in the second half [against the Waratahs] this week and from next week he should be ready to start [against the Force]."

The Cheetahs' assistant coach said Brüssow has lost none of his star qualities, despite his numerous injury setbacks in the past few years.

"He and [prop] Coenie Oosthuizen [also back from injury] made a big difference.

"When they came on [in the second half] they managed quite few turnovers at vital stages, as the Highlanders were getting plenty of possession and they re good at retaining the ball."

Fourie said flank Pieter Labuschagne is struggling with a hamstring strain, but should be fit to play on Friday.

"He went for a scan and it doesn't look like there's a major problem," the assistant coach said, adding: "We are confident that he will be fit to play, but we will continue to monitor and him during the week.

"We have a short week, as we are playing [the Waratahs] on Friday."

Replacement Riaan Smit is also struggling with a hamstring strain, but he should also be fit to play.

"The rest are 100 percent," Fourie said.

By Jan de Koning