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

Pages: « 1 … 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 [13] 14 » Show All

  • 601.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:17 pm

    stormers

    Dont think ppl here like you! Lam etc would chose my side anyday of the week you plonker!

  • 602.Fern: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:17 pm

    Jeepers people relax,chill.No one on this blog is posting from jail,or part of the Bali Nine.Increase the peace.

  • 603.MR Lam: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:18 pm

    596
    Ya he can do that but here we all sort of like to piss each other off in a non derrogative way,

    thats why IG got a new job he couldnt afford his phsycologist bills anymore, anyway Supa’s DVD street sales seems liek a good market to conquer

    GOOD LUCK IG

  • 604.Stormers: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:18 pm

    Still here Saint.

  • 605.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:18 pm

    Stormers

    I am also a stormer, but you started the p@ESklap thing man, not SUPA, don’t bail out now…

  • 606.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:19 pm

    saint

    School is out – thats why they are here. Tomorrow morning they’ll go back to Pofadder school for Crazy children!

    Ig

    If you want a new Ford to go with your new look – give GBS a call – he is from Brakpan!

  • 607.yoda: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:20 pm

    middag almal behalwe rich en sy stormer maatjie

    ig(600) haha, then we’ll see your true personality?

  • 608.MR Lam: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:21 pm

    MMMM bend over and show me your dark side

    has returned

    hello YODA

  • 609.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:21 pm

    Ig

    A good place to sell DVD’s is at Stain’s (Steyn) tollbooth, he even has a Stained Britney poster for entertainment and recreational use…

  • 610.Tony Moneo - The Perfect Storm..er...: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:22 pm

    Fern, exactly buddy, no place like home! Especially since I`m moving to Stellenbosch in May.

    I`m off everybody, cheers friends, goodbye rich.

  • 611.Ig: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:22 pm

    Be sure to give him a call Supa…..

    Lol Yoda – nah but it means i can swear back !

  • 612.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:22 pm

    saint

    Dis dieselfde poepol met wie ons so paar maande terug ook vasgesit het – hyt nog vertel hy kry enige girl en sulke stront! ek het toe vir hom gelag…en nou weer!

  • 613.MR Lam: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:22 pm

    609 and he is popular with the ladies

    just today Patience was telling me he is the best she has ever had

  • 614.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:23 pm

    Yo yo yo Yoda, what it is motha? hehe

  • 615.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:23 pm

    Yoda

    Ig wil log on and give us all the **** he can! To make up for months of hell!

  • 616.Fern: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:24 pm

    613.Who is this scoring the babes bigtime??

  • 617.yoda: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:25 pm

    lam

    you think about peoples darkside far too much buddy

  • 618.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:25 pm

    #614

    Maria, Zihle, Johanna and Sipho!! concurred this statement…

  • 619.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:25 pm

    Lam

    Is it pick on Steyn day of what? As hy jou **** gaan hy jou kom verwoes!

  • 620.MR Lam: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:25 pm

    615

    BRING IT ON IG

    we will by that time have tamed the new WM and made him our *****

  • 621.Tony Moneo - The Perfect Storm..er...: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:25 pm

    Ig, now`s a good time to start the re-set of Supa`s account…..

    TM out

  • 622.yoda: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:26 pm

    saint nothing is the motha, jy moet bieki hierdie stormers vriend van jul uitsort, die man het probleme…

  • 623.MR Lam: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:26 pm

    SUPA

    everyday is pick on Steyn day

  • 624.rich: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:26 pm

    Stormers well said,
    Supa aint never gonna grow up
    i remember guys like him in the army
    all talk and no show

  • 625.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:26 pm

    Ig is gonna **** bricks if he logs on without his banning priveleges, he will be fair game…

  • 626.Stormers: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:27 pm

    Supa you are such an eloquent bloke (look it up it the dictionary).

    You are my hero!!!!

    Saint, glad to hear you are a stormer. Thing with Supa is he continually reverts to name calling. Check all the blogs. That irritates me immensely!!!

  • 627.Fern: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:27 pm

    cheers all I gotta go.had my new fridge delivered today so this calls for a celebratory braai.

  • 628.MR Lam: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:27 pm

    cheers all

    will be in late tomorw meetings in JHB

    bye

  • 629.yoda: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:28 pm

    rich

    this is a blog. all you do here is “talk and no show”

    what do u expect supa to do? fly through the ****** pc screen?

  • 630.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:29 pm

    ag rich! I made it through Joburg central at 2pm – so dont come to me with your army talk!

    Tony

    Los n bom en vlug jy?

  • 631.MR Lam: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:29 pm

    ys SUPA

    hoe op n bullie wees

    hehehe

  • 632.Steyn The Blue Bull: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:29 pm

    Shame stormers go and call the irritate police!!

  • 633.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:29 pm

    LMAO at yoda!Thats should keep him busy for a while! Not as popular as you thought Rich? Shame…

  • 634.yoda: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:30 pm

    stormers

    as i can remember you were the one screaming rants about supa’s wife-to-be etc, and calling afrikaners all kind of names the other day, so dont try and pin “namecalling” on supa. you started the feud champ…

  • 635.EX PLAYER: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:31 pm

    LOL Yoda

  • 636.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:31 pm

    stormers

    And YOU irritate us immensly…so if i am bothering you – feel free to leave!!

  • 637.rich: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:32 pm

    lol Supa u made it thru evolution

  • 638.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:32 pm

    thank you yoda! Someone who remembers! Yeah, i forgot – he had a mouthful over Afrikaans people calling them trash etc!

  • 639.EX PLAYER: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:32 pm

    Yoda, Yoda Yoda

  • 640.Steyn The Blue Bull: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:33 pm

    Hey

    Ek bly in Kempton en Kempton piss op die army ne supa!!!!!

  • 641.Ig: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:34 pm

    Nah Saint – its gonna be sweet, i won’t 3000 folks bitching

  • 642.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:34 pm

    #626

    I met Supa at his insulting best, thing you gotta keep in mind is, Supa, doesn’t know you, this is a blog, or game, if you come around threatening to administer P@ESKLAPPE you are gonna get bitten…

    You are lucky boerboel, wallabie, pietman, GBS and Koos isn’t here, bar GBS and Wallabie all of them are stormers, but they would have torn you apart…

    Trick is to use his own shite against him, don’t insult, find a solution…

  • 643.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:36 pm

    lmao at steyn! Gaan nie met jou stry nie! Maar GBs maak dit in Brakpan! Hy is die taaiste! hehehe

  • 644.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:37 pm

    Ig

    #641

    Hehe, I will laugh my arse off if the new guy bans you…

  • 645.Ig: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:37 pm

    Hehehe Saint, i be sure to set myself up with a couple of accounts before i leave.

  • 646.rich: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:38 pm

    Ag Saint
    why defend the indefendable
    the sooner Stormer klaps him the better

  • 647.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:38 pm

    Stain

    Have you read the posts about you Tommy Tollbooth?

  • 648.yoda: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:38 pm

    ig’s gonna lose his temper, because the all the muppits are gonna come after him, and then he’l get banned. wont that be ironic…

  • 649.EX PLAYER: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:39 pm

    Saint, jy sal baie moet lag om daardie dik gat van jou af te lag

  • 650.Ig: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 16:39 pm

    Heheh Yoda – you guys give yourself to much credit

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