All Blacks: McCaw - Boks likely to miss tough Burger

Richie McCaw at an All Blacks training session in Centurion, South Africa. Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks have shifted a little mental pressure back on the Springboks by reminding them how much they'll miss Schalk Burger in Sunday morning's Tri-Nations rugby test at Bloemfontein.

Blockbusting flanker Burger is serving an eight-week ban for eye-gouging in the second test against the Lions and has been replaced by a different player altogether in scavenging openside Heinrich Brussouw.

His All Black opposite, Richie McCaw, and New Zealand assistant coach Steve Hansen both wondered aloud whether Brussow, who turned 23 on Tuesday, could fill the imposing boots of proven hard man Burger.

"The big thing Burger brought to the game was the real physical side, like the way he really flew into things," McCaw said.

"I'm not saying Brussouw is any different but he's just a little bit smaller and he's perhaps more of a player that attacks the ball on the ground."

Hansen dismissed a suggestion that Brussouw could be compared to veteran Australian No 7 George Smith, who was a one-man turnover machine in the first half against the All Blacks at Auckland last weekend.

"[Smith] and McCaw are probably two of the best in the world and it would be unfair to label [Brussouw] as a George Smith just yet," he said.

"Maybe in time, but Smith is the complete rugby player, isn't he? The other young fellow is just starting out, his job is to make his mark on international rugby.

"We had to be pretty careful [with ruck ball] when Burger was around too. I don't think you can underestimate how much he brings to the Springboks side ... he does play very physically.

"He's always there, isn't he? He's always at the breakdown. So Brussouw has to produce the goods and I am sure he will but he's a different type of player."

Springbok flankers Juan Smith and Brussouw will both relish playing on their home ground at Vodacom Park, a venue which McCaw played at for the first time recently for the Crusaders, against the Cheetahs late in the Super 14.

The skipper was clearly targeted by the Cheetahs pack and suffered a concussion as his side went down.

McCaw has struggled for regular rugby since, ending a two-month hiatus in last weekend's defeat of Australia. He admitted he creaked his way through that game.

"From my point of view, I got 80 minutes under the belt. There was a bit of rust there and I'll be a whole lot better for that 80 minutes, as I'm sure a couple of others will as well," he said.

"It gives you a bit of confidence having got through that and got the win but we're under no illusion that last week doesn't mean a whole lot.

"We're going to be in a pretty physical battle, which is always the case."

There has been speculation in South African media that the two All Black tests - the second is in Durban next week - are regarded by both teams as a mini two-test series.

McCaw suggested the All Blacks would only take that stance if they were successful this weekend.

"We've talked about that, not many teams have come over here and won two in a row," he said.

"But next week doesn't matter unless you get the first week sorted, so we haven't looked past this week at all really."

The All Blacks were to fly from their Centurion base to Bloemfontein today.

- NZPA