How to make Russell rock
17 Jan 2007
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.
689 Comments
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17 Jan 2007, 22:48 pm
Brent should not play 10. Fullstop.
17 Jan 2007, 22:50 pm
shame. give him a chance. maybe two more games
17 Jan 2007, 22:50 pm
One of SA’s biggest sins.
We do not invest in talent.
17 Jan 2007, 22:52 pm
Actually…
If talent were to be Angelina Jolie, then all men in SA would have been ***.
17 Jan 2007, 22:52 pm
PissAnt 3
Absolutely, and we are too late in realising our mistakes….can’t turn back the clock….
17 Jan 2007, 22:54 pm
How you PissAnt
Did you get paid for the Spears work?
17 Jan 2007, 23:06 pm
Kobus is still worried about his job, he knows he is a sub standard coach, he probably believed that Russell was the answer to all his prayers but after one poor showing he is kakking and putting Naas in the drivers seat, he is too scared to stick with Russell while Russell shakes the rust off.
17 Jan 2007, 23:07 pm
Willievz how you doing?
1# Why not?
17 Jan 2007, 23:07 pm
Why is Peter Grant not the first choice? Talking about a waste of talent from SA Rugby…..
17 Jan 2007, 23:08 pm
I wouldnt say it often but this time Keo, you hit the nail on the head!
17 Jan 2007, 23:09 pm
hey southfields shark
17 Jan 2007, 23:10 pm
Russel is possibly the best thing for South African Rugby at no 10, Yes after one game he has gone off firing on all cylinders, but show me one player who has been shunted from pillar to post in terms of positions who manages to have the most exciting game ever! Give Russel a chance to settle in with both team mates and position (5 games) and then evaluate his performance. Russel is amazingly talented and an X factor player, don’t be stupid and let him go to waste…
17 Jan 2007, 23:10 pm
Hey wp chic
How ya doing…..you agree with all of this?
17 Jan 2007, 23:12 pm
Southfields Shark howzit!
Regarding your request at post 8…
Because Brent’s biggest strenghts as a player make him a very poor flyhalf….he is not someone that can (a) take control of a game (b) be a primary decisionmaker (as requested from your 10 in theory) and (c) he cannot relieve pressure situations effectively.
Most people are concerned with his defensive channel – I do not think defense per se is a problem for Brent and the 10 channel (the loosies are very quick at WP and can cover that channel effectively from set phases especially) but I have seen in the past that he shoots up too quickly on defense. This, however, can easily be fixed.
Having said that, I believe Russell is one of the best rugby players in the country and should find himself in the back 3….
17 Jan 2007, 23:12 pm
i think he deserves a chance to prove himself. if he doesnt after 2-3 matches, then leave him alone. but what kobus is doing is showing a lack of faith in his player. poor russel. how do you think he feels?
17 Jan 2007, 23:13 pm
Sarugbyblog
The problem is that wp are having to fix what should have not have been broken in the first place. BR is what you say, the supporters just look for a quick fix as usual
17 Jan 2007, 23:18 pm
Wp_chic
If WP/Stormers can build a gameplan AROUND Russell, he can succeed, but when the going gets tough, and pressure is applied, he has proven unsuccessful in the past.
17 Jan 2007, 23:19 pm
willievz, i hear you but at 10 you want a player that can sum up a situation in a sec and make it count, weather is him on his own or making t for someone else. Brent can and has done this. “Open play” off quick 2nd and third phase ball is devastating!
At 11 and 14 he does not get enough ball.
15……..well pros in open play and cons in last line of defense?
Wp chic
Agreed, but give him some time. Wp must honour their word
17 Jan 2007, 23:20 pm
why the hell should they build it around him? he is not that important. you cant change everything for one person..its just not right
17 Jan 2007, 23:21 pm
No team build is built around 1 person.
Forget it
17 Jan 2007, 23:22 pm
if he doesnt work, wp can just pay their way out of the contract. everyone has a price
17 Jan 2007, 23:23 pm
wp chic, how cold are you? ;o)
17 Jan 2007, 23:25 pm
wp Chic, have you seen him play?
17 Jan 2007, 23:25 pm
I find it amazing and pathetically idiotic how people are saying he cannot play 10 or shouldn’t when he had not started in the position for 3 years. It is attitudes like that which increase pressure on a coach’s shoulders. Russell should be nurtured for goodness sake and given an extended run in the team: Kobus is already doing this by giving him game time last week and even more game time (though a combination of the 2nd side and a sub for the 1st team). Mark my words: Russell will be the starting No. 10 for the first few matches and rightly so.
17 Jan 2007, 23:26 pm
how cold am i? literally or figuratively? because figurativly.. hell, always kick em when theyre down. but unfortunately i get these flashes of kindess and compassion. how am i going to run a company like that?
17 Jan 2007, 23:26 pm
Actually, one person can make a huge difference in a team.
17 Jan 2007, 23:27 pm
i think once, a while back.. before i knew what was going on and i only watched for the players.. yeah i didnt really notice him
17 Jan 2007, 23:28 pm
SShark
I did not say that any team is built around 1 person. I was referring to the gameplan specifically.
Theoretically, your nr10 should be the primary decisionmaker in the backline because he is the player with the most vision on the park. If Brent succeed in this in games to come, I will apologise to him personally. Fact is, that the Stormers backline could not kickstart due to the fact that the 12 has been the decisionmaker in recent years. I have seen on many occasions that JDV or DWB call the shots at 10…mainly because the flyhalf was a non-Springbok (I THINK this is the psychology behind this in the camp)….hence the 10 is cut-off from decisionmaking – he was merely to be the link between the forwards and the backline (I am referring here to Grant and Olivier in recent years).
Brent is also instructed from the bench what to do – to run the ball at 99% of all occasions. We have seen against Argentina under Harry Viljoen way back that this is futile – read the situation and then make decisions.
17 Jan 2007, 23:29 pm
If you have seen him play then you will have no doubt that a player of his ability and talent can not be overseen. As i said before WP have cashed in on a deal second to none and when they follow through on their word heads are going to turn
17 Jan 2007, 23:31 pm
Mikeybrass 24
I share your comments here – but when provinces buy players, you cannot make a promise that he will start 10 ad infinitum. He has to prove himself….
He has got another chance against Boland this week…but do not come and moan to me if he does not make the cut in the S14…I have warned all of you.
17 Jan 2007, 23:31 pm
28#
Yes but can you recall Brent under Rudolf?
17 Jan 2007, 23:31 pm
#29
thats the point, he played a while back. apparently de wet barry was also good a while back..
17 Jan 2007, 23:33 pm
SS 29
I am the biggest Russell fan on the planet – hence I feel that he is wasted on 10…
Of course, I hope he proves me wrong…but to suddenly put all your hopes on one player to turn things around in such fashion as the Stormers want is atrocious.
WP were picking up great momentum in the CC and their flyhalves and their decisionmaking was one of the primary reasons they succeeded (together with the dynamic young loosetrio of Luke, Melck and Diack). Why do you need to intervene there?
17 Jan 2007, 23:34 pm
29# How many times since then has De Wet been given a run?
Compare that to the runs brent has been given…..Its a no contest!
17 Jan 2007, 23:35 pm
SS 34
I agree with you…no doubt that he should get a run…but is 10 really the place to experiment????
17 Jan 2007, 23:36 pm
the point is that just because he was good doesnt mean he still will be. of course im hoping that he is because that can only be goood news for the stormers. but if it doesnt work out then too bad
17 Jan 2007, 23:37 pm
Willievz
Until the thought pattern of sa rugby changes then this will always be an argument but yes… i see your side but dont agree
17 Jan 2007, 23:39 pm
SS 37
No worries mate, we are all only concerned about Brent here…we both don’t want him to be wasted
17 Jan 2007, 23:40 pm
WP chic
If you can get your hands on a tape of the bok trails game and fromthen till now show me one sa player with that ability and i will eat my words.
Willievz
Everything will be an experiment if it does not work first time and a plan if it does……..
17 Jan 2007, 23:41 pm
on the subject check out pocketrocket.co.za
17 Jan 2007, 23:41 pm
Great Article. i have always known that guy has something special. we tend to focus too much on his weaknesses rather than what he can do. South African coaches always choose the more conservative option. u will see. Brent is more prone to error because he tries to do different things in comparison with other players. However, these mistakes take centre stage instead of what he does or his abilities to change the game. Well done Keo, thank goodness no talk of Watson today!
17 Jan 2007, 23:41 pm
whens the last time he played? and not off the bench
17 Jan 2007, 23:42 pm
42#
For who?
17 Jan 2007, 23:42 pm
SS 39
I agree with you…but what message did this send out to people like Grant (by the way, have you seen how talented THIS guy is!!!) and Olivier…
We just disagree on Brent’s best position at the end of the day….also, it is all about establishing the best combinations…so yes, give it a try, but do not be too optimistic about the outcome of it….
17 Jan 2007, 23:43 pm
#43 for anyone
#44 grant is good
17 Jan 2007, 23:44 pm
Willievz
Agree with you but all the hype after 1 game?
It does not do any good for anyone if you ask me
17 Jan 2007, 23:46 pm
Sharks must be early CC 2006 on wing?
Boks must be a year or 2, if you dont count Argentina where he replaced Pretoruis about 20min in i think
17 Jan 2007, 23:47 pm
SS 46
I am not basing my arguments on the past game…Everyting I have said regarding the situation I have said ever since the Brent-transaction was made….
You cannot make promises to a player, telling him he will play 10 the whole season and then break it after one try. This is professional sport and it does not work that way. Hence I blame Fester and WP Rugby for the way the transaction was handled…they might have digged a hole for themselves…
17 Jan 2007, 23:48 pm
By the way, I have checked out the site you mentioned and it is pretty cool….
17 Jan 2007, 23:51 pm
#47
thats ages ago, and you said he was a wing for the sharks. wing and flyhalf are two differnt postions. even i know that
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