Mujati’s tight fit
4 Jun 2008
From Zimbabwean schoolboy to Bok prop – Brian Mujati must be pinching himself.
There’s no disputing that he was the form South African tighthead in the Super 14, although Mujati would disagree that he was so integral to his team. He points to the other seven blokes around him at the Stormers, not to mention the other seven behind the pack and the seven on the bench.
‘Sure, I have improved, but it’s a work in progress,’ he says. He doesn’t quite come out with the ‘aw, shucks’ routine, but he’s not
far off.
Though at 24 he is still very young for a tighthead, Mujati’s path to Stormers’ anchorman has been somewhat zigzag.
There was no stellar but steady rise from prominent South African rugby-playing school via Craven Week to age-group representation. Instead, there was the prominent Zimbabwe rugby-playing school (Peterhouse), Zim Craven Week … and then the lean times.
Mujati left Zimbabwe after matriculating in 2002, determined to make a career out of rugby.
‘It was during Craven Week that I realised I wasn’t too shabby as a player,’ he says. ‘I held my own against some powerful South Africans in the set phases even though as a team we were getting caned. I was lucky going to Peterhouse, though, as it has a long and traditional rugby-playing history. Coaching is still quite established there, so I had a good foundation. But after school …’ his voice trails off. ‘I can’t speak for others, but growing up in Zim you don’t think of playing there. I knew I had to come to SA.’
Mujati duly got to Johannesburg on a student visa and debuted for the Lions U21s. He played a few Vodacom Cup games, then a couple in the Currie Cup. Last year he graduated to the Super 14 side following a spate of injuries, and he played the entire season. He had been given a gap and he grabbed it. It should have been a dream year careerwise, but it ended in acrimony when he was accused of jumping ship during the Currie Cup. He disputes this, saying his student visa had expired, which made his contract null and void. The resentment from Ellis Park still simmers, however, and there was much talk at the beginning of the season of lawyers and courts.
His signing with the Stormers this year only increased the rumblings from Gauteng. ‘Look, I didn’t feel valued at the Lions,’ he says. ‘There wasn’t any major blowout – more like a series of little incidents. Nothing racial, if that’s what people are thinking. I just didn’t fit into their set-up, that’s all.’
He has very much fitted into the set-up in the Mother City. ‘I like Cape Town. I like the people and the lifestyle. I like the Stormers’ organisation and I like Rassie [Erasmus, the head coach]. I like the way he coaches. He’s very chilled.’
Tighthead is renowned as the most demanding position in rugby, but Mujati seems to have taken to it like a natural.
‘I’ve been lucky that I’ve only played prop my whole life,’ he says. ‘A lot of guys started out playing flank or hooker and then moved to prop, but for me it was only about tighthead. From the first I’ve loved the grunt and groan of the position. The scrumming, the mauling, the one-on-one with the opposition loosehead – that’s what gets me going. No-one sees that in the crowd, but I dig it.’
South African rugby digs it too.
By Patrick Farrell
This article first appeared in the June issue of SA Rugby magazine.
571 Comments
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4 Jun 2008, 12:00 pm
#100 Mighty elephant: Danie Gerber is too old??
4 Jun 2008, 12:05 pm
#96 lion4ever:
I do not wish to be disrespectfull to you or any other bloggers.
If my manner in putting my point across about BJ was aggressive, then I am willing to say sorry.
However it is an area in which I have a lot of experience and this may count against me here, where people are adamant about their opinions.
Asha, made a good point about winning over friendship.
However I go back to what started this discussion, and that is simply that I disagree with the writer that Mujati was the number 1 tight head as it was clearly BJ.
That does not mean that I do not rate Mujati, in fact I rate him highly.
However some people here seem to lose perspective, in comparing a player who has had a good S14 and no international caps against a seasoned international tight head.
Mujati is an apprentice at international level, and is still very young for a prop, with a lot to learn.
Managed correctly he will be a great, but fans are too quick to push new players and do not give enough recognition to the cornerstone of the best South African scrumming pack in the S14 this year.
4 Jun 2008, 12:08 pm
#99 JL1:
So you would go to war today against the All Blacks with Mujati who has no international experience, and CJ whose weaknesses you have described, whilst leaving BJ, your only established international technical scrumming tight head at home?
4 Jun 2008, 12:08 pm
#98 goodstuff:
Jozi is scary indeed.
I don’t even dare to step over at OR Tambo anymore, I’d rather wait for a direct flight to the Cape even it takes a day or so longer to get a booking.
4 Jun 2008, 12:10 pm
good morning everyone
Tighthead mate ur wasting your time
you have know it alls on here that 99% chance have never played rugby
, never mind tighthead or frontrow
i was discussing john smit with jake white recently and i personally have had many a fight one here and on the sharks blog even about john smit
even yesterday keo had tiffs on here with clowns that felt they knew it all , keo was 100% correct
i have always felt john smit to be the best hooker in SA by a country mile as he does the basics better then any other hooker in SA
To top that he is our best capt , and like i said to Jake the other morning i quote
i felt to many people looked at the flashy players instead of who was doing the hard yards, the dirty work
Jake said to me i was 100% correct and that he is astounded that john hasnt been signed here yet
the same applies to BJ , most on here have no clue about tighthead play and technique , infact jli said he hadnt seen bju dominate ever ???
well my words to him is pure and simple ?? you have no clue mate
so thighthead mate dont bother , you cant convince the ignorant , specially ones that are so knowledgable , i mean they just know it all
4 Jun 2008, 12:11 pm
#100 Mighty elephant:
Good question.
They had a very good team at Cravens last year, both EP and Border Districts.
I wonder what happened to all those youngsters.
4 Jun 2008, 12:14 pm
#105 sharks_lover: Dropping names again sharks_lover? Well done mate, you had lunch with Jake White.
4 Jun 2008, 12:16 pm
no names were dropped clown , i said breakfast and i dont see the need for myself to explain a thing to you I know the facts
so take ur sarcasm and go screw urself ,
4 Jun 2008, 12:16 pm
#105 sharks_lover:
Thanks for your support, and you are right about wasting my time.
I have also had the pleasure of having a one on one rugby discussion with Jake, and know that he, like all good coaches understands the importance of the tight five being where tests are won and lost.
It is just very frustrating seeing people bad mouthing players like Smit and BJ when we should consider them to be national heroes.
4 Jun 2008, 12:16 pm
# 102 tight head
u call him a seosened international ,he has only played for the boks 16 times (not enough to make u a seosened international)most of them of the bench,so he’s quite inexperienced as well unfortunately i agree with the most of the bloggers mujati’s at present is our best tighthead.
4 Jun 2008, 12:16 pm
#102 tight head:
hmmm, fast learner, i see
4 Jun 2008, 12:17 pm
i just dont see the need to give out my own identity or where i work , so take it as you may , it truelly dont give a ****
4 Jun 2008, 12:17 pm
#104 tight head: Tights. Do you actually rate the current AB front row ? I think Hore is outstanding but the loss of hayman et al must be a blow.
4 Jun 2008, 12:19 pm
yeah tighthead mate its really sad ,
one thing i would like is that nice slk350 merc jake drives
lol
4 Jun 2008, 12:19 pm
#108 sharks_lover: What can I do but laugh at a reply like that. Relax buddy, you’re going to drop down dead from a heart attack.
4 Jun 2008, 12:20 pm
who else has had a one on one with jake ?
i had a one on one once with dale sandton
4 Jun 2008, 12:20 pm
#111 asha1:
Asha, never to clever to acknowledge good advice.
4 Jun 2008, 12:21 pm
TH although ui am very good friends with craig davidson , and we know the history between craig and jake????
so to be honest before i met jake i was a little , how can one say ?? not his biggest fan as i felt he had done craigs career harm ??
yet i foung Jake to be a very nice fella , and he didnt mince words , he said it as he felt and believed
4 Jun 2008, 12:22 pm
#116 st.a.t.w:
and i’m sure you lost that one!
4 Jun 2008, 12:24 pm
You guys are starting to sound like little gilrs on a play ground! I think provincialism is getting the better of you, that is why I will go with Tighthead as there is no way I’ll go with supporters of a team that had the worst scrum in the competition!
4 Jun 2008, 12:24 pm
howdy all.
i have been reading with interest and i believe you are all onto something. the sharks scrum has been solid, even dominant, for the last two seasons with bj and i truly believe he is outstanding. that said, mujati more than held his own this year and i am glad he is getting a chance to show what he can do.
PdV is aiming at developing depth. he has publicly stated this. what better way than against wales rather than in the tri-nations?
go brian go!!
4 Jun 2008, 12:25 pm
#113 pauld:
I think they will have the best front row in the tri nations.
Woodcock is technically superb at loose head, but with nobody near his class as second choice, so if he gets injured they will suffer.
Hore will be a great in my view, and they have very good back up in Flynn and Meealamu.
On the tight head Sommerville is now a great seasoned, mature scrummager, and it does not get better than that.
However they have Afoa, who is also a very good tight head.
Overall they look very healthy.
4 Jun 2008, 12:27 pm
#116 st.a.t.w: No, although I did see Ollie le Roux raving it up at an outdoor trance party in `99.
4 Jun 2008, 12:28 pm
# 119 asha1
i did’nt stand a chance!
4 Jun 2008, 12:29 pm
#123 tight head: Even playing test match rugby with the Elvis rules ? I think our tights are better ball runners than Woodcock and Somerville. My opinion of course. Wasn’t Somerville an exchange student in the Eastern Cape at one point ? Grey in PE ?
4 Jun 2008, 12:29 pm
clanerk becar\use of ur immature remark you didnt deserve better
if you had thr decency to talk to me without sarcasm you might have had ur answer in a more mature manner
you attack in ur sarcastic way and you will get what you got ??
go think about it
???
st.a.t.w you dont even deserve and response
i repeat i dont need to divuldge my where abouts or where i work
infact sharks girl knows me and will know i aint talking rubbish
4 Jun 2008, 12:32 pm
#105 sharks_lover: Ha ha. In future, when blatantly name-dropping, remember that it is far more impactful to quote The Name than to quote yourself speaking to said name.
4 Jun 2008, 12:36 pm
#125 pauld:
Once again it is a matter of how you view the game.
To me the ELVIS rules are about scrumming.
The Crusaders realized this and were able to take the scrum at free kick time and get good quality front foot ball for their backs, who now had more space to work with.
Once again, you pick your best scrummagers first, win the scrum battle and do the other work thereafter.
I seem to remember that Sommerville was here a long time ago.
4 Jun 2008, 12:36 pm
#126 sharks_lover: by the way on the topic of Smit, on ECR this morning they said that on Friday we should know whether Smit will play in a black and white jersey or blue one, but the way it was said gave some incling that it could indeed be in the black and white. Hold thumbs and pray!
4 Jun 2008, 12:36 pm
#122 tight head:
Sir, I beg to differ. I think the ABs can be attcked at scrumtime with Hayman gone. Somerville is sound but teh Saders scrum was inconsistent during the S14. This is reason why I think Heinkie omission was shocking. Obviously PDV is looking at a more loose orientated game and not so focus on the scrum as an attacking weapon.
Woodcock btw has destroyed all comers in the S14 and I doubt this Mujati boy can contain him. Ditto for Bj as well..despite having the best right shoulder in SA IMO.
ignore these CT women Mr TH who do not know jack sh*t about forward play.
Despatch for life!!!
4 Jun 2008, 12:36 pm
katman boet i know what i said to the man a,d vice versa
i am not from the press or anything like that so it was an informal breakfast
i have had this arguement for a long time on the sharks blog with those calling smity fat barney even there
yet the same asses didnt have the kahooners to say they were wrong after smitty proved them all wrong
and for your info , heinke now the loser on bok colours when he is clearly our top loosehead , definately the strongest
4 Jun 2008, 12:36 pm
#126 sharks_lover: Deep breaths mate, I can just picture you turning red behind your PC, sweat dripping from your forehead.
It’s not you against the rest of the world so relax.
4 Jun 2008, 12:37 pm
#129 tight head: Fair comment mate
4 Jun 2008, 12:38 pm
the ELVIS have made the scrum a powerful attacking weapon. team that dominates at scrumtime will win the game IMO
4 Jun 2008, 12:38 pm
Heinke vd Merwe last yr might have been the quintessential example of a destructive/dominant scrummaging loosehead prop BUT this season he hasnt displayed such form He still has the same locks (Anton van Zyl,Franco vd Merwe,Gerhard Mostert,Senekal) supportibg him as last season,same hooker in Wepener,same loosies etc….one piece was missing though….BRIAN MUJATI
Meanwhile Brian Mujati transformed a below par Stormers unit into an effecient one along with the addition of Adriaan Fondse.Brian Mujati was the cornerstone of the improved tight 5 effort plus more suprisingly his workrate and ball carrying ability has improved something that he didnt display at the Lions..
Heinke reminds me of old Free State scrummaging guru Dougie Heymans…Great in the set pieces but questionable in other facets…Which is partly why Heymans never became a Bok.Had less accomplished props(in setpecies specifically) but better athletes leapfrog him continuosly for Bok contention(ala:Adrian Garvey)
4 Jun 2008, 12:38 pm
#129 GirlShark: No chance of him playing for Boland then?
4 Jun 2008, 12:39 pm
I once had a conversation with Richard Loe about the ramifications of the up coming ELVes.
He said “cane you knunt, ***** off”.
And just to piss him off I did.
4 Jun 2008, 12:39 pm
eish (M) girlshark i hope and pray hun , we need smitty back with the sharks , well definately butch too
i feel smitty being able to play loosehead and tighthead will be welcome too specially after losing BJ to the UK
4 Jun 2008, 12:42 pm
#130 greatest13gerber:
Good day Greatest.
Nice to have you in the team!!
I have been scrumming against these guys all morning here with no help!!
4 Jun 2008, 12:43 pm
lol cane
clanerk you seriously are an attention seeker , go find some toys to play with ,, ,,,,,,,
girlshark hun the other thing the sharks definately need besides smitty and butch is another good lock
actually id love steyn and J fourie to be the sharks center combo
4 Jun 2008, 12:44 pm
lol tighthead not true i been helping big time
4 Jun 2008, 12:46 pm
#134 greatest13gerber:
Have you been listening to “Radio Sport” again G13G!
Where are all the doom merchants (those who resist change, for no other reason that it is change) who forecaste the end of the game as we know it.
Well it’ll be rugby Jim, but not as we know it, not as we know it.
There are Klingons on the starboard bow…..
4 Jun 2008, 12:47 pm
#135 mshiniwami:
fair point but I would still have Heinkie there for sheer power. Our loosies compensate for Heinkie lack of explosion in the loose. I prefer a structured front row that will dominate then one with kids like Beast who roam around like extra loosies taking too much good ball and suffering consistency come scrumtime.
Dougie Heymans should have being a Bok..Adrian Garvey was sh*t at scrumtime but operated like a loosie and hence he was selected..same as Ian Hattigh (Tvl) was selected despite just converting from loosie to utility prop in one season.
players must have specific and dedicated roles. Too many playmakers and ball carriers can often lead to plans becoming unstuck.
for every Kanskowski..there must be a Ruben Kruger
for every Nonu..there must be a Aaron Mauger
get my drift?
thank you.
4 Jun 2008, 12:48 pm
#126 sharks_lover:
Buddy you are name dropping so badly its scary. I dont recall anyone even asking you where you work or whatever but you keep telling us you are not going to divulge that info, like we actually give a toss.
Just for the record, I am also yet to see BJ destroy someone, there seems to be this myth about him as a destructive scrummager, but I’m yet to see it. The bok scrum has consistently gone backwards over the last few seasons. However I do remember Mujati putting Steenkamp’s head through his *** the this year’s S14…
4 Jun 2008, 12:48 pm
Great article “Power Personified”
4 Jun 2008, 12:49 pm
#127 katman:
my thoughts exactly
4 Jun 2008, 12:49 pm
#141 sharks_lover:
Sorry mate, my bad.
You sure were a welcome sight, and got the players going with the JW thing!!
4 Jun 2008, 12:50 pm
#143 greatest13gerber:
reuben kruger …. now there was a player!
4 Jun 2008, 12:51 pm
#145 Dazzler: If he tells us what his name is and where he works i’m afraid he will have to kill us. I am sure it’s some secret organisation that promotes the Sharks Front Row. I can imagine him sitting in front of a big console with an array of lights and buttons ready to vaporise any dissenters. Good Bye Mr Stormer in my best Bond Villian accent
4 Jun 2008, 12:52 pm
Mr Cane
I like Mr Brendan Telfer..he is a frank man of integrity who ask the tough questions and foresee’s the possible scenarios without bias or sensationalism.
Mr TH,
I wan to see BJ dominate more..Brian is capable as well IMO. He reminds me of a 27yr old Pieter De Villiers(FRA) but without the “sharp” back technique.
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