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 12 … 14 » Show All

  • 301.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:54 pm

    GBS

    Ek pick nie op kleintjies nie…

  • 302.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:55 pm

    Anyway, I hate the bulls too…

  • 303.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:55 pm

    ….. net op onskuldige hoendertjies en tafels, nê Saint!

  • 304.Hmmm: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:56 pm

    Supa, ek het klaar vir hom gese die leeus rus 4/5 spelers toe kap hy “ek gee nie ‘n hel om oor julle span nie”…..so wen of verloor, ek gaan uitdeel!!!!!

  • 305.Tony Moneo - The Perfect Storm..er...: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:57 pm

    Hello Secondhands

  • 306.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:58 pm

    Hoenders is nie so onskuldig as wat hulle lyk nie GBS, maar dis OK eendag is eendag, dan moet julle net onthou, ek het eerste gestrike, toe ons nog kon…

  • 307.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 12:58 pm

    lol at hmmm..bulle het ook nie Spies, Bakkies ens nie! Maar Petoors maak n groot verskil aan die leeus!

  • 308.Hmmm: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:00 pm

    Supa, daar is meer wat nie speel nie….

    Twee van ons begin voorry (1 stut en die hakker)….

    Een van ons begin lose trio….

    Andre, JacoP en nog een of twee agter spelers in die agterspelers……

  • 309.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:00 pm

    Tony, praat van 2nd hand, gister was Wêreld-Oorlog 3, toe is jy nêrens te sien nie…

  • 310.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:01 pm

    Die Bulls en die Lions gaan mekaar opkeil vir die wooden spoon, en dan gaan ons ‘n jaar lank **** van spelers wat beseer was, of nie gespeel het nie, etc. etc.

  • 311.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:01 pm

    ….en die ge-allieerde magte het ook Wêreldoorlog 3 gewen!

  • 312.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:02 pm

    jaco sal anyway nie span kry nie! Ons het ook meer – Guthro, Dlulane, Lobberts etc. Moenie nou al met verskonings begin nie! Soos jou pel se – ek gee nie n hel om oor jou span nie!

  • 313.Tony Moneo - The Perfect Storm..er...: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:02 pm

    Saint, dit klink of jy `n Hithcock movie gesien het. Hoenders is mos voels?

  • 314.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:03 pm

    saint

    die lions en die bulls gaan altwee jou spannetjie kafdraf! Seker weer NOKIA tellings opstapel!

  • 315.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:03 pm

    #307

    #308

    #312

    Sien?

  • 316.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:03 pm

    Met al die spelers wat die practice games mis gaan die Lions myns-insiens heeltemal under-cooked in die S 14 in, dit nogal teen die Tahs wat gewoonlik met spoed begin!

  • 317.Tony Moneo - The Perfect Storm..er...: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:04 pm

    Ek se HELLOOOOO 2nd Hands!

    Saint, ek was gister die HEELdag in `n meeting in Rosebank.

  • 318.Hmmm: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:04 pm

    Ja maar supa, ons is reeds dun in die vaste 5 en dan rus hulle nog twee……

    Ek het baie vertroue in die vaste 5 van ons ‘run-on team”, want hulle het baie goed gedoen teen almal in die CC…..so ek gaan nou sien hoe gaan ons wees as ons 2 beseerdes so hê…..

  • 319.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:05 pm

    #313

    Giggel maar in jou mou tot ‘n hen jou strot uitruk…

    Of ek oor jou ry….Ja, ek het nog nie vergeet nie…

  • 320.Hmmm: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:05 pm

    Tony ek weet sommer jy praat nie van my nie….

  • 321.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:05 pm

    #317

    Heeldag schmeeldag…

  • 322.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:07 pm

    Wie de hel is 2nd Hands??

  • 323.Tony Moneo - The Perfect Storm..er...: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:07 pm

    Hmmm, dit het jou ingesluit!!!

    So, hoe ver gaan die Lions die bulls wen? F*kken ver!!!!!!!!!

  • 324.Tony Moneo - The Perfect Storm..er...: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:09 pm

    GBS, julle almal is 2nd hands!!! :D

  • 325.Blouste: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:09 pm

    Die Leeus gaan lekker op hul moer kry die naweek, maar moenie stres nie manne julle sal nog die Stormers klap….

  • 326.Tony Moneo - The Perfect Storm..er...: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:09 pm

    So, watse WW3 was hier gewees?

  • 327.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:10 pm

    ****** Mondeo!!

  • 328.Blouste: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:10 pm

    Beteken dit Tony is nog ‘n virgin…?

  • 329.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:10 pm

    Tony

    GBS is nie 2nd hand nie, hy is ‘n antique

  • 330.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:11 pm

    Tony

    ek **** Petoors is bang vir Hougie – dis hoekom hy nie wil speel nie!

  • 331.Tony Moneo - The Perfect Storm..er...: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:11 pm

    Hello Blouste, sorry to say, jy is VERKEERD!

  • 332.Hmmm: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:11 pm

    Tony 323…jy sal meer as jou nick hakkel as jy my weer 2nd hand noem :wink:
    :closed:

  • 333.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:12 pm

    Tony 2 words…

    Carla Jane

    Oh yes, and a tosser called Spider…

  • 334.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:12 pm

    Ek ‘n “antique”….. Hehehehe

    Ja, hulle maak nie meer die goed so sterk en behoorlik en behendig soos in die ou dae nie….

    Julle is die plastic generation!

  • 335.Blouste: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:12 pm

    Ek sien Tony, maar moenie vir my sê sorry nie…

    Ehet gelukkig niks daarmee te make nie.. :lol:

  • 336.Tony Moneo - The Perfect Storm..er...: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:14 pm

    Petoors is bang vir niemand nie Supa! As hy bang was vir apies sou Hougie hom miskien nervous gemaak het, maar hy is nie!

  • 337.Ig: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:14 pm

    GBS – did you send that stuff to me via snail mail ?

  • 338.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:14 pm

    GBS

    As jy werk het om te doen – wie gaan jy inspan? n Jong fris donkie of n ou half dooie donkie?

  • 339.Hmmm: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:15 pm

    335, dis wat julle nou sê :shock:

  • 340.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:16 pm

    Tony

    Se vir hom hy moet maar vir die Bokke se onthalwe uit Pakslae se pad bly…:lol:

  • 341.Hmmm: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:16 pm

    337….nou Ig, remember he and supa use parafien pc’s……

  • 342.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:17 pm

    Ek gee julle gou n krieket update:

    Kanada het 295/5 gemaak.

    Skotland is nou 0/0 na 0.1 overs.

  • 343.Hmmm: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:18 pm

    Ag supa, Andre sal vir DomDanie spear tackle…..

  • 344.Blouste: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:18 pm

    Kyk mense, bulle gaan die een met ten minste 15 vat…

  • 345.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:18 pm

    Fooook Ig,

    Sorry buddy, have’nt had a chance to send yet, was too busy warring here on the blog the last couple of days……

    Threw my toys well and solidly out of the cot!

    But I have diarised it for tomorrow, won’t forget!

  • 346.Tony Moneo - The Perfect Storm..er...: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:18 pm

    hel maar dis `n aggresiewe forum hierdie. Hmmm, jou 2nd hand… :D

  • 347.The_Saint: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:18 pm

    Ig

    How many applications did you guys receive from the muppits

  • 348.Supa Die Bloubul: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:19 pm

    hmmm

    Jy praat seker van n Danie van schalkwyk…

  • 349.Blouste: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:19 pm

    Waar sien jy die score Supa?

  • 350.Ig: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2007, 13:20 pm

    No worries, GBS – i asked cause i trashed my mailbox – putting a new one up this weekend.

    Saint – a couple, not sure which Muppits though

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