Quiet achiever
12 Apr 2011
GAVIN MORTIMER, writing in SA Rugby magazine, discovers that while Brian Mujati has excelled for the Northampton Saints, he doesn’t want to talk about it.
‘I’m not a front-page kind of guy, I’m quite happy to stand back,’ said Brian Mujati on 1 June 2008. The 23-year-old prop was speaking ahead of his impending Test debut against Wales, telling a reporter from the Sunday Times about his journey from the Old Hararians club to the Springboks. On being compared to fellow Zimbabwean-born prop, Tendai Mtawarira, Mujati laughed and said he disliked attention as much as the Beast loved it. ‘It must be a nightmare!’ he replied, when asked if he didn’t secretly crave fame.
Two days later Mujati’s ‘nightmare’ became reality and he found himself the centre of a press furore. A London-based newspaper called The Zimbabwean accused Joseph Mujati – Brian’s father – of having grabbed the Inyazura farm of Marthinus ‘Tienie’ Martin five years earlier. The writer was at pains to point out that Brian was not involved, but the damage had been done.
‘This is a shabby attempt to smear the name of a Springbok rugby player on what should be one of the most memorable days of his life,’ raged Andy Colquhoun, Saru strategic communications manager, in response to the story. ‘There are no allegations against Brian, and an attempt to visit the alleged sins of a father on to a son is beneath contempt, however it may be dressed up.’
Though Martin was clearly still angry by the memory of the day he was forcibly evicted from his farm, he stressed his support for Brian: ‘I don’t want to mess the youngster’s career up,’ he told the newspaper.
It was an awful way in which to make a Test debut, and though the Boks beat Wales 43-17, the one area they struggled was the scrum, where Mujati endured a torrid afternoon.
‘It was tough for Brian,’ said Robbie Kempson later. ‘Not only was he making his Test debut, but he was up against an experienced opponent in Gethin Jenkins. The story about his dad and the farm in Zimbabwe may also have affected him … I don’t think there is anything technically wrong with him … so I don’t think he deserves to be dropped.’
But he was, and though he remained in the Springbok squad, Mujati made just one more start before earning the last of 12 caps as a replacement at Twickenham in November 2008.
Mujati was scarred by the experience, not just of being cast into the international wilderness by the Springboks, but also by the newspaper story that dragged him into a scandal of which he had no part. The upshot of the rumpus was that in May 2009 Mujati left southern Africa for England to join the Northampton Saints on a two-year contract, taking with him a burning mistrust of the media that continues to this day.
When contacted by SA Rugby magazine, Northampton refused to grant an interview on the grounds that ‘Mujati doesn’t do them because of something that was written in South Africa’. Sorry, Brian doesn’t want to talk.
It’s a shame because Mujati has been in outstanding form for Northampton this season, a vital member of a side that is challenging for honours in the English Premiership and the European Cup. If Peter de Villiers’s spies are doing their job they should be sending back glowing reports on the 26-year-old tighthead.
Fortunately there are people only too happy to talk on Mujati’s behalf, even Euan Murray, the Scotland and British & Irish Lions prop who lost his place to Mujati in the Northampton side earlier in the season. Murray is a Christian whose beliefs preclude him from playing on Sundays, and unfortunately seven of Northampton’s first 17 matches of the season fell on the Sabbath, giving Mujati plenty of opportunity to showcase his talent. Which he did to such an extent that in December Murray left Northampton for Newcastle.
‘Brian started the first game of the season because it was a Sunday and he played very well,’ says Murray, adding: ‘He’s a good scrummager.’
In the same month that Murray left the club, Mujati extended his contract at Northampton by two years, prompting director of rugby Jim Mallender to say: ‘Brian has shown he has what it takes to compete at the top end of the Premiership. He has improved a lot as a player over the past year and his performances reflect the work he has put in. But he is still a young man and we believe he has his best years in front of him.’
One of Mujati’s team-mates in England is Bruce Reihana, the former All Blacks utility back, who arrived at Northampton in 2002 and is now their longest-serving player.
‘Brian’s a great team man,’ he says of the South African. ‘A strong silent type is quite a good way to describe him but when he’s got something to say in team meetings, he’ll speak his mind. He’s a softly-spoken guy but he’s humorous too, and likes to kick back when the moment’s right. He’s a good man to talk to; not much seems to faze him, and he’s very knowledgeable about the game.’
Reihana cheerfully admits that being a back he’s not in a position to assess Mujati’s scrummaging prowess but he can see in the club’s fitness testing how strong he is.
‘Brian loves his weights and he’s certainly improved in the two years he’s been here. He’s very strong, in the legs and the upper body, and is just a very compact guy.’
Someone well placed to run the rule over Mujati’s ability in the set piece is David Barnes, Bath’s veteran loosehead prop, who has spent the past 15 years in the top flight of English rugby.
‘I’ve played against Brian a couple of times this season and I would argue that he is the dominant tighthead in the Premiership,’ says Barnes. ‘When he came to England a couple of seasons ago I think there were questions over his technique, but he’s improved enormously under the coaching of Dorian West [the former England hooker who’s now the forwards coach at Northampton]. He causes problems for looseheads in every game because his technique is so good.’
Barnes says what makes Mujati such a formidable opponent is his physique.
‘He doesn’t have the usual prop’s body, if I can put it that way! Unlike some of us he’s in very good shape and doesn’t carry much fat. He’s also a little bit shorter than most of us [1.80m and 118kg] so he’s able to get in excellent positions and make life very hard. There’s no doubt he’s the most destructive scrummager I’ve played against this season, and I think he’s definitely one of the reasons why Northampton have the strongest scrum in the Premiership. Some props just sit there and use their weight but Brian uses his power and strength to drive you back and hurt you.’
Mujati no doubt enjoys the anonymity of living in England and the freedom to walk down the road without being recognised, but his time in the UK hasn’t been entirely without controversy. The front rower has an unfortunate knack of attracting unwanted attention, a trait that emerged even before the ruckus over his father.
Having come to prominence in 2002 playing for Zimbabwe Schools at Craven Week, Mujati was picked up by the Golden Lions in 2003. Then in October 2007 he joined the Stormers and Western Province on a two-year contract after an acrimonious falling out with the Lions in which Mujati claimed at the time: ‘I was never treated very well … I felt that there were a lot of things they could have done to make it better but they chose not to. So I chose to move.’
The Lions responded by trying to hold Mujati to his contract and in the end South Africa’s rugby judicial committee had to intervene, ruling in February 2008 that the Zimbabwean was free to play for the Stormers.
Then in October 2009 Mujati was involved in a bizarre incident while playing for Northampton against French club Perpignan in the European Cup. Having taken a blow to the head (later diagnosed as concussion), Mujati pushed referee Nigel Owens out of the way as he prepared to enter a ruck.
Even though the disciplinary committee accepted the fact Mujati was dazed at the time of the indiscretion, he was still banned for six weeks.
Northampton were livid with the ban, as they were six months later when they discovered that Mujati had received an approach from Saracens, then coached by Brendan Venter.
‘I know one of our players has had a phone call from one of their players asking if he wants to leave to go to Saracens,’ fumed Jim Mallinder, adding: ‘And when players like that are in contract it is disappointing. If that is the way they want to do their business then that’s up to them.’
So what are the chances of Mujati receiving a more welcome call in the coming months, one from Peter de Villiers inviting him to relaunch his Springbok career? He can’t be ignored on the grounds that he plays his rugby overseas; after all, Frans Steyn was selected last November and he plays in France.
Like many front rowers he’s improved with age and the Mujati of 2011 is a different tighthead to the one of 2008. Power, strength, technique, he’s got the lot and above all, he has the desire to erase the nightmare of 2008. He might not be a front-page kind of guy but given the chance, Brian Mujati could make a splash on the back pages. Just don’t expect him to talk about it …
– This article first appeared in the April issue of SA Rugby magazine.
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32 Comments
12 Apr 2011, 06:51 am
Whispering dragon?
12 Apr 2011, 07:02 am
Mujati, Weppener and Heinke at the Lions back in the day was a great combo.
12 Apr 2011, 07:08 am
They should try and get them back. Would make a great combo now that Brian has learned a thing or 2…
Makes more sense to spend your money on players like that than Butch IMO
12 Apr 2011, 07:48 am
Jannie Du Plessis ansd Mujati to WC….
Sounds good to me.
I watched Mujati on Sunday in Heineken q final.
Strong as an ox.
12 Apr 2011, 08:02 am
Good prospect for the Bok tighthead – Mujati Bismark Beast – intimidating front row
12 Apr 2011, 08:08 am
beast brian and bissie would make a great front row.
12 Apr 2011, 09:15 am
Quiet achiever?
Anyway he isn’t eligible to play for South Africa yet.
Best they get his paperwork in order.
12 Apr 2011, 09:36 am
@The X-factor is staying at home.(gunther)-7: Yip, Stofile’s daft ruling makes him ineligable, even though he qualifies under IRB rulings. Maybe the new sports minister will have a change of heart.
12 Apr 2011, 09:51 am
How nice of you Keoling, an article on Mujati, as I said last week, we have Beast and Guthro at loosehead and Jannie and Mujati at tighthead, Bismarck is the hooker who will play the bulk of the games, his reserve must be one of Chilliboy, Maku, Deon Fourie, and thats it.
12 Apr 2011, 09:55 am
In the past I would have said no way but on current form – why the hell not. We dont really have many players putting their hands up in SA for the number 3 spot and it is an area of concern. He has a similar physique to Beast (must be a Zim thing
and that means power. Having the 2 of them either side of Bissy could be devastating.
12 Apr 2011, 09:56 am
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-9: Totally spot on – id say hooker should be either Fourie or Maku – Chilli is doing bettre but Maku is devastating.
12 Apr 2011, 09:58 am
@The X-factor is staying at home.(gunther)-7: What do you mean is not eligible to play for SA?, Vuyisile is a Springbok with
13 caps.
w w w.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/peter-bills-brian-mujati-deserves-world-cup-chance-2188689.html
12 Apr 2011, 10:00 am
and let me tell you an All Black (heheh) front row of Mujati, Beast and Maku is a sight to behold As we were privvy to against England at Twickenham with Chilliboy. Lets face it – blacks physique and genetics predisposes them to certain positions – theyre exceptional wings and the more solid physiques lend themselves to front row play. (not saying they cant play in other positions – only the genetics seem to favour ox like strength or speed. No racial slurs etc intended whatsoever. Just science and physics.
12 Apr 2011, 10:04 am
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-12:
In terms of the IRB yes.
But he falls foul of the same ruling that el beasto did, until he got his paperwork in order.
speak to fikile chief.
I’m sure you have him on your speed dial.
12 Apr 2011, 10:18 am
@grant10(grant10)-4: Yeah, he was damned good.Was also part of that Saints scrum that marched their opposition 50 + metres a few months ago.You just dont see stuff like that anymore
12 Apr 2011, 10:32 am
@Provincejoulekkading(Provincejoulekkading)-15: This guy does not only scrum, he gets about the park as well and has scored a few tries this season. He needs to be in the Bok squad for sure.
12 Apr 2011, 10:54 am
@The X-factor is staying at home.(gunther)-14: correct , only a south african citizen may play for the country as per the laws made by stolie
thus the only way mujati can play for the boks again is to do what beast had to
12 Apr 2011, 11:27 am
Brian Mujati is a active blogger on ruggavibe.com check him out.
12 Apr 2011, 11:35 am
Brian actually has a blog..
http://www.ruggavibe.com/page/team-players/brianmujati/index
Awesome read..
let me know what you guys think
12 Apr 2011, 11:51 am
hmm so whats our best possible front row?
Mujati
Du Plessis
Steenkamp
?
12 Apr 2011, 12:08 pm
Leave the Zimbo Land Grabber where he is Saffas.
What next, Gaddafi’s son-of-a-***** at 1st Five.
12 Apr 2011, 12:10 pm
@cane(cane)-21: Maybe for Bafana-bafana as Said played Serie A soccer – 1 game for Perugia and 1 game for Udinese.
12 Apr 2011, 12:18 pm
@gecko(gecko)-22:
I wonder how much that cost Daddy!
8)
Three Tankers of crude.
12 Apr 2011, 12:25 pm
Keo
I have seen ruggavibe.bomb and whilst they lack the general level of erudite sophistication found here they do have a “Ruggababes” Gallery.
This is a notable ommission in the keo arsenal.
Make it so.
12 Apr 2011, 12:34 pm
mujati is useless, he can fk off back to his stolen farm in Zim we don’t want him in SA…po&es!
12 Apr 2011, 13:22 pm
@foreverrugga(foreverrugga)-25: wow.
12 Apr 2011, 14:05 pm
The question is: does he have an SA passport?
12 Apr 2011, 16:26 pm
I remember this guy, he played for the Stormers. And no thanks, average at best.
12 Apr 2011, 16:29 pm
Who cares what he does !
Look at the Beast , he showed loyalty to this country after he also received numerous offers to go abroad .
Mujati went for the money and showed no loyalty to SA .
So please write about guys who are prepared to show loyalty and take us to the Eastern Cape where there are 100′s of quality players of colour who are SA citizens and they show all the promise in the world .
12 Apr 2011, 17:30 pm
BJ Botha is still SA’s best tighthead. Jannie du Plessis No.2 and CJ vd Linde a has-been…
13 Apr 2011, 00:13 am
Beast Maku Mujati with Chili on bench
now you cooking with gas that would shut Afriform up forever, and the 90% Afriform rugger junkies on here. Oh glorious day whatafucking glorious sight to behold.
13 Apr 2011, 03:41 am
@ sohojo You and malema can rot in jail for your hate speech!
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