Release the Russell rocket
24 Sep 2006
Brent Russell is our most potent attacking weapon and he’s desperate to be used.
In a revealing interview with SA Rugby magazine, on sale this week, Russell expresses his frustration at the way he’s been treated by our coaches.
“Could I have achieved as much as Matt Gitaeu if I’d been given a chance? That’s a question I’ve had many years to think about,” he told the magazine. “Have I been properly utilised by South African rugby? I believe I could have been played more, I could have been better utilised.
“To be honest, I can’t really relate to Giteau at the moment, because I’m in such a different space. I can’t tell you how good a player I could be, because I don’t know myself.”
Also in the new issue:
– The next generation: Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen and Brad Barritt
– All-out attack: changing our mindset
– Why SuperSport’s commentators suck
– Andre Pretorius: “I haven’t reached my best”
– Exposing SA’s goal-kicking myths
– Coaches circle: Nick Mallett, Brendan Venter, Gysie Pienaar and Chester Williams on the way forward
– Jeremy Guscott writes about England’s new man in charge, Rob Andrew
– Lote Tuqiri rates Bryan Habana
– Why the Boks need a full-time defence coach
– SA players in France (and why they left)
– Why the NFL is in a different league to rugby union
– Lions fullback Louis Ludik on his first season of Currie Cup rugby
– Plus columns from Naas, Nick and Keo
131 Comments
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26 Sep 2006, 10:19 am
pakslae,
How nice of you to reply to me in such revered tones.
Russell is a good player, that’s all. there are more talented players in SA rugby than Russell. Methinks he is just a good excuse for some of you guys.
As for what the Ozzies and Kiwis would have done with him, he probably would have developed better than he has done in SA. But he still would have been behind the likes of Latham, Tiquiri, Gerrard, Rokocoko, Howlett, Giteau, Carter, evans etc. Russell is good guys, but not that good.
There are plenty of “gifted” rugby players who have played Sevens like Orene Ai’i, Wasale Serevi, William Ryder, Eric Rush, Ben Gollings etc. Their games were never suited for the XV man game though. Some players have made their names in Sevens and then gone to the XV man game and made the step up, Cullen and Lomu being good examples.
I think Russell should go on the Sevens circuit, as that is what his game is best suited to. He would be a huge success there.
26 Sep 2006, 10:21 am
O, and sorry to say but that is a k@k SA Rugby cover… What is he supposed to be? A monk????
Simon! Where is my Lions cover??? My team beat all your teams. Can’t remember who you support this week but we beat you anyway!!!
26 Sep 2006, 10:23 am
Skim,
Best impact player in the world? There are quite a few guys out there who have the ability to come off the bench and add something. Russell fits into the same bracket as Nonu and Rogers, all gifted, all capable of weaving some magic, all capable of f*ck ups, and all not good enough to make the starting XVs for their countries.
Also, it’s a shame for players like Russell that Jake White doesn’t use his bench much, as it negates the point of having great impact players available wouldn’t you say
26 Sep 2006, 10:32 am
Knyp twee balle tussen jou bene. Met jou hande en kniee op die steene. Trek af jou broek en BRUL!!! En doen die LEEULOOP. Tennis balle, Krieket balle, Rugby balle as jy wil….
26 Sep 2006, 10:56 am
Tackles you zub
Go ask Stirling Mortlock if he thinks Russel cant tackle … he knows 1st hand that russel cant fell the biggest tree in the forest running straight at him full tilt.
fool
26 Sep 2006, 10:59 am
OOPs
that was meant to read CAN !!!!
26 Sep 2006, 11:15 am
Stefan Basson’s a better pocket rocket and can tackle.
Russel’s not a flyhalf-kicking not good enough.
26 Sep 2006, 11:30 am
braders you do not know what u r talking about, you and willie doos shut the f@ck up…!
to all the cheetahs, bloody hell, congrats on the win… seems like my sharks are un-peaking at the wrong time!! hopefully it is just to lure the other teams into a false sense of security ha ha…
26 Sep 2006, 11:43 am
brent russell is shorter than luke watson.
26 Sep 2006, 11:46 am
Kabamba Floors and Russel to win the WC for SA !!!
26 Sep 2006, 12:22 pm
Russell is the man. Needs to be used. He should have come a long way since he started playing for the boks but his development has been nil. Your loss. He was the Toeava when he burst onto the scene but alot better than Toeava. Raw talent. I agree he needs to be a team player more often but with his explosive pace i would pick him in to wear an All Black Jersey if he was born in Hokitika. Pity he wasnt.
I think that the magazine as a means to try and push his case is a strange way to go about it. Are the coaches not approachable enough to go and talk to this sought of stuff about or would Jake just slam the door? SA rugby is full of surprises.
26 Sep 2006, 12:51 pm
Only barely Martin…..about 1½ centimetres…..
26 Sep 2006, 13:12 pm
Grrrrrrrr
Hoe was Keimoes? Veilig gery?
Kry Russell by julle en dan sal jy sien hoe hol julle gate deur almal.
Die Spears is moer toe, Lions volgende jaar in S14.
Kry Brent, voor ons WP manne hom wegraap. Hy sal moers inpas by WP of Leeus.
Die storie oor sy grootte is n grap.
Kyk na Dominici, Aplon, Jason Robertson, J-P Reeves, Breyten, Fergus Slattery, JJ Williams, Jeremy Guscott, Grant Batty, Phill Bennett, Ollie Campbell, Naas Botha, almal 80kg of minder ….almal legendes.
Net die Bulle is gepla oor gewig en grootte.
26 Sep 2006, 13:26 pm
its amazing how russell has suddenly become such a big topic all of a sudden
26 Sep 2006, 13:31 pm
KIR,
Someone needed to fill the Luke Watson gap. SA rugby needs a sensational headline or two to keep people on their toes and arguing
Replace Montgomery with JP, Play Watson to solve the open side issue, Wasted Talent Russell…what next I wonder?
26 Sep 2006, 13:35 pm
very true stodders, i’m sure there will be controvercy surrounding the end of year players chosen!! i’m worried guys like barry,julies ets will be picked cos they are at the training camp
26 Sep 2006, 14:20 pm
Russell is an arrogant prick…the wife saw him at the Durban July Horse race…and was disgusted to say the least!
Typical “kortmannetjie” sindrome!!
26 Sep 2006, 14:24 pm
GBS,
Maybe that’s why his coaches have chosen to ignore his “talents”, to teach the height impaired man a lesson
26 Sep 2006, 14:26 pm
KIR,
Do you know how many players JW is taking with him on the EOYT? I would imagine the players who were in the last Tri Nations match day squad will be in the touring party along with any major players who need playing into form.
I don’t think Julies or Barry will be in the squad, but at least the French lessons will come in handy for them when they go searching for a contract in the NH. It’s best not to limit yourself to just the English speaking world
26 Sep 2006, 15:29 pm
very good player, should definitely be featuring more prevelantly in the boks and sharks setup.
26 Sep 2006, 15:39 pm
Couldn’t agree more – Russell is one of our genuine, proven play-makers at Test level – this is another example of the stubborness of the coach – when he makes up his mind nothing will change it. Even in the last Test that try against France was a beauty – of course Russell is not as good as the great Danie Gerber but he has that same quality of closing.
What am I not seeing here?
26 Sep 2006, 15:41 pm
Stodders
How many new caps do you foresee for the EOYT?
26 Sep 2006, 15:56 pm
DS,
Few if any i’m afraid. Your props are pretty much selected, as well as your hookers. Maybe Schalk Brits might get a call up as the third hooker? But I would expect Gary Botha to get the call here as he’s been involved with JW’s Boks before.
Locks will probably be Matfield, VD Berg, Muller and (cringe) Roussouw.
I don’t see any surprises in the loose forward mix. Watson won’t get a call. Maybe someone like Floors may get a call to travel with the squad, but I just don’t see it.
In the backs, it will be just the same. The only bolter I can think of is Aplon. Other than him, I can’t see who JW will take over and above those who he has already picked over the last 3 years.
26 Sep 2006, 16:10 pm
johan roets will be in the eoyt
26 Sep 2006, 16:33 pm
shot,
Nah, i don’t think Roets will go. He can’t play anywhere else other than FB, and JW already has specialist full backs in Montgomery and Pietersen. If there is to be a bolter, I think Aplon will get the nod to cover wing and FB.
26 Sep 2006, 16:40 pm
stodders, valid point, but according to me old JP has been shown up, even if it was just one game. He’s just too risky in defence
26 Sep 2006, 17:09 pm
shot,
I actually agree with you about JP. But he is in JW’s squad, which means he is above Roets when it comes to selection in the Bok squad.
26 Sep 2006, 19:57 pm
Rufnek,I know.I corrected myself 3 posts later.
26 Sep 2006, 20:18 pm
# 117 Grootblousmile
I’m surprised you say Brent’s an arrogant prick – what did he do? I’ve met him a couple of times through a friend, and he was quite a down-to-earth guy.
26 Sep 2006, 21:37 pm
Russell is good and quick and it is also true that he has not had enough game time at international level to say one way or another at this point. It is telling that he is rated by NZ and OZ.
As for arrogance… who cares as long as he scores the tries and wins the games?
27 Sep 2006, 02:06 am
There are number things the Sharks are doing right but the way they utilising Russell and Solly is unacceptable.These are reputable Boks who are constantly being jerked around from pillar to post.Im a Sharks supporter but if we cant use them lets give them to a union that needs them for the greater good of S.A rugby and their careers.Same with Sephaka and Shimange for their respective unions.Also Steffan Basson and in futute Chilliboy or Strauss at the Bulls.Too many options and greedy unions.
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