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'Ireland had no answer' - Mitchell already repaying RFU's investment

England defence coach John Mitchell. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
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England defence coach John Mitchell has earned praise from his former boss and the English media after his side’s statement Six Nations victory over Ireland.

Former All Black and All Blacks head coach Mitchell joined Eddie Jones’ staff last September and has been credited as the mastermind behind “the white wall that nullified” Ireland’s attack over the weekend.

Sir Clive Woodward was among those offering praise to England head coach Eddie Jones and Mitchell for their efforts.

Mitchell coached under Woodward during his first stint with England’s from 1997 to 2000.

“Ireland had no answer and it has been a while since we have said that,” Woodward wrote in his column for The Daily Mail.

“So hats off to Eddie, after a poor 2018, and his defensive coach John Mitchell, to go and win in a place where the All Blacks got seen off in the autumn series.”

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Mitchell left his role as director of rugby at the Bulls’ Super Rugby side to join Eddie Jones’ England staff last year.

According to a report in The Times from September last year, Mitchell is earning £300,000 for his role with England, who had to pay the Bulls £200,000 compensation to release the coach mid-contract.

British tabloid The Daily Star believe that Mitchell has already returned on that investment.

“England’s secret weapon for the Six Nations and World Cup later this [year] has taken just one wondrous game to be revealed,” The Daily Star‘s Jeremy Cross wrote.

“Kiwi John Mitchell was appointed at great expense to become Eddie Jones’s defence coach.

“But Mitchell has paid back the RFU already in the wake of England’s stunning thumping of Ireland in Dublin.

“Mitchell orchestrated a white wall that nullified what was the most potent attacking force in European rugby in 2018.

“The win was quite a statement and if Mitchell and Jones continue to work magic like this, England are serious contenders to become world champions again.”

Mitchell and England continue their Six Nations campaign against France next weekend as they look to improve on their 1-0 tournament record.

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NoLongerARuck 1 hour ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

The Six Nations produced so many compelling games and so much of action packed moments that you can only conclude that its the best international comp out there at the moment except for a world cup. If Wales improve it will be even better especially given the strides Italy have made in recent times. The Rugby Championship is now taking a hiatus in a year it really should be building toward something better which is terrible considering the competition was so tight last year. The Nations Champs promises much but one gets the feeling that the 6 Nations teams will not be at their peak given its at the end of their long season. In terms of rugby quality and entertainment Id rather watch the 6 Nations over everything else other than a world cup right now. The North arguably offers more in terms of entertainment than the South at club level as well. The Prem, the Champs Cup, URC and Top 14 all feature plenty of scoring and different playing styles while Super Rugby seems to be the same thing game in game out. While the South tries to speed up the game artificially with new trials and law variations the North has shown you can do it with good refereeing which penalises cynical play harshly and encourages positive actions on the field. In terms of entertainment the North wins. In terms of winning? They are making strides but until they win another world cup or get a team to rank number 1 again for an extended time again they cant really say they are better than the South.

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