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Brüssow benched by Cheetahs

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské has resisted the temptation to rush Springbok Heinrich Brüssow straight back into his starting XV.

The only change to the matchday squad to face the Highlanders in Invercargill on Saturday sees the Springbok openside flank, Brüssow, come onto the replacement bench in place of Johannes Prinsloo.

The starting XV is unchanged from that which took a 3-45 battering at the hands of the Chiefs last week.

Drotské, speaking to this website earlier this week, said the 26-year-old will likely start in Invercargill.

However, the Cheetahs coach has had a change of heart and Brüssow will play his 30-odd minutes off the bench.

The Bok flank, Brüssow, underwent surgery to his shoulder after he suffered an injury in a Currie Cup encounter with Griquas in October and was expected to be sidelined for about six months.

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.

Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Willie le Roux, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Frans Viljoen, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane.

Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Rynhard Landman, 19 Heinrich Brüssow, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Riaan Smith, 22 Ryno Benjamin.

Date: Saturday, March 9

Venue: Rugby Park, Invercargill

Kick-Off:  19.35 (08.35 SA time; 06.35 GMT)

Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)

TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)

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