How a snub by England assistant Mitchell gave birth to Brock James' stellar French club career
Brock James has spoken about how rejection by current England defence coach John Mitchell sparked his stellar career in the French Top 14.
It was Mitchell who unceremoniously cut loose the Australian talisman from the Western Force way back in 2006, forcing the out-half to take his chances elsewhere.
Fourteen years later, he is still going strong as a player at the age of 38 at La Rochelle after a long stint at title-winning Clermont was followed by a first taste of coaching at Bordeaux.
Asked by Midi Olympique, the bi-weekly French newspaper, if he had any regrets about never becoming a Test player for Australia, James said: “No, for me it’s simple, I left Australia quite young because I couldn’t even find a job in Super Rugby.
“John Mitchell (the Western Force coach at the time) told me that I was the fifth No10 in the hierarchy and that I would not even play in friendlies. So I looked for something else. I wanted to challenge myself and I had the opportunity to come to France. Small stops in my career have always moved me forward so I have no regrets.”
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James has since gone on to move within reach of becoming the all-time record scorer in France. With 3,003 points on the clock since his arrival in France, he is just short of the record of Romain Teulet (3,007).
However, the clock is finally winding down on the career, James admitting this will definitely be his last season as a player after he was tempted into joining La Rochelle by Jono Gibbes and giving it one final lash.
Jolis mômes en Une de Midi Olympique !
Téléchargez l'édition numérique > https://t.co/3EIOEKEvsi pic.twitter.com/IzaTAyVnFs
— Midi Olympique (@midi_olympique) January 9, 2020
“This is the last year to get the most out of it, and as soon as I’m on the field I will try to do my job and have as much fun as possible,” he said. “From the moment I accepted, I knew it was my last. You can’t play forever, even if you want to. It’s a good way to end.
“I have spent two great years at La Rochelle, a club that I love in a region that I love. My family are well-settled, so the project proposed by Jono was interesting as the last challenge,” he continued, hoping for an emotional send-off as his current’s club final regulation season fixture will be against his old team, Clermont.
“I imagine there will be a lot of emotions. I just hope I’ll be on the sheet match. That would be wonderful.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Ah, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
48 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
22 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.
22 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. 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.
22 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.
22 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.
22 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 commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
17 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
1 Go to commentsWhat a difference Rodda and Carter made. Rodda has been out for ages but he is really the only world class lock in Australian rugby. Him, Carter and Beale made a huge difference on the weekend. If only they had a few decent props they’d be a much more dangerous team. Hamish Stewart was excellent last week as well. His carrying has improved significantly and has to be next in line after Paisami at 12 for the Wallabies. He’ll benefit hugely with Beale at fullback, there’s just no better communicator in Australian rugby than him and his experience will make a huge difference for the Force. No one sees space like Beale and he’s still sharp. I can see Force making a late charge into the top 8 if they can get some consistency.
2 Go to comments