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 2 3 4 5 [6] 7 8 9 10 11 … 14 » Show All

  • 251.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:45 am

    Saint

    Skielik glo jy JJ? Deur die jaar vertel julle net hoe k@k hy is! Ek het ook sy berig gelees so ek weet nie waar jy daaraan kom dat hulle ons gedomineer het nie! Skrums was redelik gelyk – nie een span het sy bal verloor nie. Lynstane het ons alles gewen behalwe een toe Kuun haker was. Matfield het weer by die stormer een gesteel. Mauls het die bulle meters en meters gewen en die stormers se mauls het niks gevorder nie. wikus het twee van Luke se balle omgedraai…so waar het die stormers ons gedomineer??

  • 252.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:48 am

    #248

    Doesn’t beat seeing your team kicking *** overseas…

  • 253.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:48 am

    2,5? Se asb vir my waar het julle 2,5 uit 4 oorsee gewen laasjaar??????????

  • 254.PissAnt: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:49 am

    Bly om te sien Victor kan nog balle vat van n loskakel posisie.

  • 255.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:49 am

    More Willie!

    Saint – it does! You wouldnt know!

    Pls explain your 2,5 wins last year?

  • 256.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:50 am

    Yeah Supa, the Bulls like a good thrashing;-) It’s why the pack is on top of one another;-)

  • 257.Staal: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:50 am

    supa, gbs,

    ek het nog so ‘n t-hirt oor vir iemand wat dit dalk wil he. Laat weet.

  • 258.Staal: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:51 am

    t-hirt = t-shirt

  • 259.wp_boytjie: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:51 am

    Relax Supa , al wat ek kan dink is dat die score was baie naby , so julle kon nie die hele game domineer nie…. maar ek was nie daar nie , so weet nie als nie.

  • 260.willievz: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:51 am

    Ek sien die Bulle en die Stormers gaan nooit ophou stry nie….

    Almal weet tog die Stormers gaan die Super14 game wen, die ware Jakob en nie een of ander “warm up” game nie :shock:

  • 261.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:52 am

    staal

    ASB! Ek soek graag nog een!

    Gee gou jou mail weer asb!

  • 262.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:54 am

    wp boytjie

    ek se nie ons het gedomineer nie – Saint se stormers het gedomineer. Al wat ek se is dat ons was nader aan domineer as wat hulle was.

  • 263.wp_boytjie: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:54 am

    Die super 14 game is op Loftus , so ons sal maar moet wag en sien….

  • 264.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:54 am

    saint

    Waar jy nou? Jy soek seker daai ,5 wat jy nie gaan kry nie! :lol:

  • 265.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:55 am

    Boytjie

    Jy moet opkom en kom kyk!

  • 266.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:56 am

    Supa

    JJ Harmse is so diep in die Bulle opgekruip, as hy iets teen hulle sê dan moet dit waar wees….

    Hy het gesê dat dte Stormers gek@k het in die losspel, maar hy het gesê in die vaste fasette het die Stormers hulle man gestaan…

  • 267.wp_boytjie: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:57 am

    ja , nee versker met die voorspelers geen twyfel nie. Agterlyn en broken play, miskien ons. wens ek was daar , ek het rugby cravings soos nooit tevore nie.Nog 2 weke basies tot ons lekker weer kan kyk.

  • 268.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:58 am

    saint

    ek stem saam hulle het hulle man gestaan – maar jyt gese in 212 “die stormers was die bulle baas” in die vaste fasette, wat nie waar is nie.

    En jy nog nie geantwoord nie – waar het die stormers laasjaar 2,5 uit 4 games gewen oorsee?

  • 269.wp_boytjie: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:58 am

    Nee wat Supa ek was al een keer op loftus en nooit weer nie. Ek glo ons is ‘n baie beter span as die vorige twee jare , maar ek het nooit baie hoop met loftus nie.

  • 270.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 11:59 am

    boytjie

    ek gaan weer die saterdag vir die lions game! Dis lekker goedkoop -R10!

  • 271.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:00 pm

    Supa ons het oorsee 2 games gewen en een gedraw…

  • 272.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:00 pm

    wp boytjie

    Was jy daar met die nokia telling?

  • 273.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:01 pm

    Saint

    Watter game het julle gedraw???????????

  • 274.wp_boytjie: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:01 pm

    Die leeus rus mos helfte van hul span. Ek is seker Jacques Cronje se besering is ‘n klomp gemors….Ek reken hulle gaan kak, tackle maar gerus die kak uit Earl Rose uit. Ek hou niks van daai man nie.

  • 275.wp_boytjie: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:03 pm

    Ou Supa nee , was in 2003 daar in Loftus. En 1995 vir die Frankryk England 3/4 place playoff game. Nuweland sal altyd my plek wees :)

  • 276.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:03 pm

    petoors ens rus. ek dink Jaque Fourie en Ricky en so aan speel. Kan half verstaan – hulle het nie watwonderse diepte nie. Gaan nogtans lekker wees! die bulle span is blykbaar baie na aan die beginspan wat teen die sharks gaan speel.

  • 277.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:04 pm

    #273

    **** sorry Supa, ek dog die Brumbies game was ‘n away game, jammer man, gremlins…hehe

  • 278.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:04 pm

    wpboytjie

    Was jy vir die toets teen AB daar? Ek was daia dag daar – 16 – 52 verloor!

  • 279.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:05 pm

    ja saint – ek wou se jyt die kat aan die gat beet.

    so van nou af glo jy elke woord wat JJ Harmse se ne? Jy kan nie later weer se hy praat altyd nonsens nie! :lol:

  • 280.wp_boytjie: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:06 pm

    ja was daar vir daardie game. Corne’ Krige se tyd. ‘n goeie pel was daar vir die 75- 14 … fokkit. daai was erg ,

  • 281.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:07 pm

    #279

    Net as daai JJ Harmse praat van die K@K wat die Bulle aanjaag glo ek hom…

  • 282.wp_boytjie: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:07 pm

    WAAR IS SERELI???? WATS DIE STORIE???

    Hy moet terug kom , ek mis daardie man

  • 283.willievz: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:10 pm

    Saint re JJ Harmse
    Verseker, hy is vreeslik biased….so as hy iets se wat die ander span loof, moet jy dit glo…..

  • 284.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:11 pm

    SUPA

    Ek raak nou gatvol vir jou en jou Nokia telling, niemand sê iets oor julle die k@kste S12/14 rekord van alle tye het, of omdat julle teen die farken reds verloor het nie…

  • 285.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:16 pm

    Saint

    Dink jy ek gee enigsins om of jy gatvol raak?? Hy het gese hy was by Loftus maar nie watter game nie, toe vra ek of dit daai game was! Ek praat anyway nie met jou nie!!!!

    Ja, tipies wp – glo net as joernaliste slegte goed skryf!

  • 286.Hmmm: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:18 pm

    Supa, waar speel hulle en watter tyd?

  • 287.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:19 pm

    more hmmm

    16:00 eerste game
    18:00 tweede game

    Loftus

    Gaan jy kyk?

  • 288.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:22 pm

    Supa

    Toevallig altyd daai game….hehe

  • 289.Hmmm: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:22 pm

    Supa, ja….

    Speel hulle twee games teen mekaar?

  • 290.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:24 pm

    jip hmmm

    Die eerste is soort van n vodacom cup game en die tweede game is die hoofwedstryd. die bulle speel n sterk span – maar die leeus speel nie vir Petoors ens nie. Dink Jaques Fourie speel wel.

    Saint

    As jy PMS het moet nie hier kom chat nie! :lol:

  • 291.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:39 pm

    Ek het PMS

    Probleme Met Supa…

  • 292.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:40 pm

    LMAO! goeies! Jyt lank gedink – maar goeies! :razz:

  • 293.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:40 pm

    Of Probleme Met Saint…

  • 294.Hmmm: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:44 pm

    Heheheheh 291….

  • 295.Hmmm: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:45 pm

    Supa, dan is ek daar…..

    Het klaar van my Bul vriende saam genooi sodat ek hulle kan uitkoggel wanneer ons altwee wen…….

  • 296.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:47 pm

    Ek was ‘n rukkie nie hier nie…

  • 297.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:48 pm

    hmmm

    Pasop dat jy nie dalk aan die ontvangkant staan nie!!

  • 298.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:48 pm

    ja…jyt gesit en dink!

  • 299.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:51 pm

    Supa, Supa, Supa

    Ek hoef nie so lank te dink nie, jy ken my, Master of the Comeback…

  • 300.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:52 pm

    Fokkers,

    Julle is darem maar pateties, plaas julle kom help het op die re-design thread vroeër toe eye hate Bulls kom moeilikheid maak het en opgefffffoeter is!

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