Eight players that could thrive under John Mitchell as England defence coach
The arrival of John Mitchell as England’s new defence coach has been one of the worst kept secrets in rugby over the last few weeks and the addition of the Kiwi was finally completed and announced on Tuesday.
The former New Zealand and USA coach, who was also an early part of Sir Clive Woodward’s coaching staff with England, left his role with the Blue Bulls in South Africa, after the RFU reportedly forked out £200k in compensation to the Pretoria-based side.
Eddie Jones has already talked up Mitchell’s ability to add to the current England side, focusing specifically on transition rugby. That is, basically, the ability to win turnovers and then immediately launch a counter-attack, playing on the break against a disorganised defence.
Jones has not always agreed, in terms of selections, with his assistant coaches and in those instances the Australian’s word has been law. Although we expect that to continue even with Mitchell in the fold, there are a number of players who could be hoping that Mitchell’s arrival heralds a revitalising or kickstarting of their international careers.
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Here are eight players who Mitchell could well bang the table for, ahead of the upcoming autumn internationals.
Matt Kvesic, Exeter Chiefs
Kvesic has been in rip-roaring form to start the season in the south-west and although his game looks to be more balanced than it arguably was at Worcester or Gloucester, he is still a real threat over the ball. If Mitchell wants to cause havoc on the counter-attack, he needs a semi-regular source of turnover ball and that is something Kvesic could help provide.
Luke Wallace, Harlequins
Although Wallace isn’t quite the limpet over the ball that Kvesic is, it’s still an area he can make a valuable contribution in. Throw into the mix Wallace’s mobility and effectiveness as a support-runner and ball-handler, and you have a player that will not only help create transitions, but also prove valuable in turning them into points.
Brendon O’Connor, Leicester Tigers
The New Zealander was predicted to have a bright future with England when he made the move to Leicester in 2015 but for one reason or another, that breakthrough at international level has not happened. His 18 turnovers won last season in the Premiership were the second most in the competition and like Kvesic and Wallace, he fits the mould of a team looking to steal ball and spring offensively in the same moment.
Don Armand, Exeter Chiefs
Turning over ball on the deck isn’t the only way to win possession, it can also be won by stealing opposition lineouts and Armand gives you a value in both areas. As with the other back-rowers mentioned, he also has the handling skills to take those turnovers and keep alive the subsequent attacking phase, attempting to stretch an already disorganised defence. He is in the top three for turnovers won and lineout steals after three rounds of competition this season.
Dan Robson, Wasps
The scrum-half is often floating near the ball in any defensive line and if a steal is made, they are regularly one of the first players on hand to spark the counter-attack. Robson’s speed, work rate in support and awareness of passing and offloading options make him an excellent transition threat.
Alex Goode, Saracens
Could a recall for Goode be on the cards? Teams are usually able to get set well defensively when they kick ball away, so it’s not quite the transition threat that a turnover or lineout steal can be, but Goode brings incision and a playmaking game beyond the initial line-break. If Jones sees Elliot Daly as his new 15 moving forward, after the South Africa tour, then this is made less likely.
Christian Wade, Wasps
This is a longshot, but a good transition game is built on speed, ability to create space and finishing. In those three facets, there is probably no player as skilled in the Gallagher Premiership as Wade. When given an inch, Wade regularly takes a yard and with defensive and aerial games that haven’t been the Achilles’ heel they have been made out to be for a couple of years now, he could certainly add a new dimension to England’s play.
Manu Tuilagi, Leicester Tigers
You sense Tuilagi will work his way back in regardless of Mitchell’s calls, as long as he can stay fit, but again, he adds to what we guess Mitchell will be trying to mould the England defence into. He is adept over the ball and often tackles players or joins breakdowns in the wider expanses of the pitch, where there can be less support players for the attacking side. Adding turnovers in the back line certainly won’t hurt England.
Comments on RugbyPass
Don’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to comments