How to make Russell rock
Brent Russell needs a coach who believes totally in his skills.
I thought Kobus van der Merwe would be the man to do so, but I fear the pre-season optimism has quickly been dashed after one trial game. Naas Olivier is a competent flyhalf, but he is in the Louis Koen mould. He’ll never let you down, but he won’t win you championships. Russell is a player who can be the difference in a competition like the Super 14.
The Aussies have always said that if Stephen Larkham was South African he would never have played test rugby. Equally, they’ve said if Brent Russell was Australian he’d have played 50 tests by now. Invariably because there are so many good players in this country in every position coaches are unwilling to coach a player when it comes to Super 14 or test level. They want the finished article and the investment in a player is minimal when you compare it to the likes of Australia, who have a limited supply of quality rugby union players.
Russell, in other countries, would be an asset because of what he can do and not a liability or potential weakness because he has vulnerabilities in his game.
Already the doubts have been allowed to creep in. The media questioned Russell’s first appearance and the coach felt obliged to concur that the player had struggled. What did he expect? Russell has played a handful of games at flyhalf in the last five years. Take the good in his attacking game and nurture it. Take the weaknesses and work on them.
Playing percentages rugby in the Super 14 has never won a team anything. So the Stormers looked more structured when Olivier played flyhalf in the second half against the Bulls. So what. Structure is not the key ingredient to winning the Super 14. The Stormers last year lacked a playmaker close to the scrum. The did not have that X-factor from broken play or when quick ball was recycled. They had solidity in Peter Grant and Olivier. Nothing more. Near misses remained just that.
Russell has the X-factor, but he is also a player who simply has to be boosted to get the best out of him. He has to be trusted to make an impact and I can only hope Van der Merwe has sat with him pre-season and told him he’s got the first 5 games to prove he is good enough. To judge him on every game individually will lead to failure. To unleash the beast, there has to be some massaging of the shoulders and there has to be a belief from the coach that playing Russell at flyhalf is not a gamble, but an investment.
Russell’s out of hand kicking game must improve and as a natural soccer player it is something that can be fixed. He is not a goalkicking option and to try and make him one will lead to frustration.
To allow Russell to prosper Van der Merwe should pick Grant at inside centre, shift Jean de Villiers one out to the number 13 jersey and give Grant the goalkicking duties.
If blue is the new black in Cape Town, then boldness must be the coach’s motivation. A year ago Van der Merwe suffered because of conservatism in his selections and because of a reluctance to back playmakers. Russell gives him the chance to change all that.
January 18th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
#645
Isn’t that against the rules?
#646
Supa does not need me defending him, I am just tutoring you junior okes…
January 18th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
hahahaha ex (649)
January 18th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
saint
Thats to much for him! He insulted all Afrikaans people last time – so GBS, Pietman etc wont have much time for him.
Anyway, im almost on my way home…
cheers all die manne en stormers
January 18th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
ya rich – you are a junior! hehehe Keep hoping! You are alreaddy on the wrong side of the bond!
January 18th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Ex
As my gat ‘n farking area kode gehad het soos joune, het ek my bek gehou….
January 18th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
already
January 18th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Cheers Supa.
Don’t worry about Stormer, he is on his own.
Sorry, forgot Rich is somewhere up his arse.
January 18th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
saint 1
Rich – 1
January 18th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Ig
We can be pretty irritating, you once got so pissed off, you actually called the brotherhood Steyn and his farking clan…
January 18th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
hehe expl
thanx for the support…lol
cheers manne – praat more
January 18th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
ja well no fine
January 18th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
haha saint 655, well done…
January 18th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Saint – Ek **** jy verlaat Ermelo omdat die stadsraad besluit het jy moet ‘n nommerplaat dra.
January 18th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
#663
Ek **** jy verlaat die kaap omdat die ‘Save a Whale foundation’ jou elke keer try terug rol in die see as jy op die strand lê…
January 18th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Hey Saint, Ex en al die manne.
Ek het volgende week n toer daar by my tolhek.
Julle moet kom sal lekker wees om julle een vir een voor n bus in te gooi!!!!
January 18th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
yep Saint u c that insults dont feel nice
oh well what goes around cums around
January 18th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Ag Ig
We Love you man!!!!!!!
I think the wp supporters more then others
January 18th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Steyn- dis net jy wat kan bly raak oor ‘n tolhek toer.
Dalk moet jy sommer jouself eerste gooi.
January 18th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Steyn
Dankie en alles…
Maar ek weet nie of jy tyd gaan kry tussen Patience en jou Britney poster nie…
January 18th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Cheers Saint, Steyn, Yoda en al die ander f@kkers.
Cheers Ig
January 18th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Cheers EX
sien more
January 18th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Rich
You are missing the point man, I don’t care about the insults, I give as good as I get, I never lose my temper…
January 18th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
rich
its weird how you should post on the number of the beast. should we be scared?
January 18th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
ek is ook weg.
cheers people
January 18th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
cheers ex
January 18th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Cheers manne
Laat ek weg wees….
Rich & Stormers
You have been victims of the brotherhood, it happens, take it on the chin, and forget about it, thsi is all in the sake of fun…
Nothing personal, hell we don’t even know you…
January 18th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
rich
saint is lying, he gets very angry, he’s on his 3rd screen this month! that should make u happy diablo…
January 18th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Hehe Yoda…
January 18th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
666 way to go
i dont believe in that nonsense
13 is my lucky number
yoda never believe what people older than u have told u
they are clueless
January 18th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
cool rich, just kidding around, have a good night
January 18th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
Is it safe.
January 18th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Lol Dawn yes it is safe to *** out
January 18th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Yeah Dawn
Talk to Rich and Stormer.
Nobody else wants to.
Have fun.
January 18th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
hallo pietman, jy nog hier?
January 18th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Boks julle nogsteeds?
January 18th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Hello Pietie.
Hoe lyk dit blaar?
January 18th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Zik my blaar.
January 18th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Teams:
Bulls (18.00 kick-off): 15 Johan Roets, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JP Nel, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Derick Hougaard, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Anton Leonard, 7 Wikus van Heerden, 6 Pedrie Wannenburg, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Rayno Gerber, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Jaco Engels
Replacements: 16 James van der Walt, 17 Wessel Roux, 18 Danie Thiart, 19 Francois van Schouwenburg, 20 Adriaan Fondse, 21 Derick Kuün, 22 Nicholas Eyre, 23 Morné Steyn, 24 Wayne Julies, 25 Marius Delport, 26 Rocco Jansen
Bulls XV (16.00 kick-off): 15 Stefan Basson, 14 Rocco Jansen, 13 Frikkie Welsh, 12 Dries Scholtz, 11 Marius Delport, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Nicholas Eyre, 8 Dewald Potgieter, 7 Deon Stegman, 6 Adriaan Fondse, 5 Francois van Schouwenburg, 4 Cliffie Milton, 3 Danie Thiart, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Wessel Roux (C)
Replacements: 16 James van der Walt, 17 Richard Bands, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 20 Gerhard Human, 21 Emile Verster, 22 Gerrie Odendaal, 23 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 24 Braam Gerber, 25 John Mametsa
die 2 bulle spanne vir die naweek teen die leeus
January 19th, 2007 at 9:49 am
Iemand het gister op ‘n blog so stuk geplaas van “Currie etery” ek kan nie onthou waar dit was nie.
Kan jul help?