Sale's MacGinty reveals what life will be like for England players under 'intense' Mitchell
USA Eagles outside half AJ MacGinty has dismissed claims that John Mitchell does not have skills to be England’s new defence coach and predicts his former head coach will be a major success in his new role.
MacGinty, the Sale Sharks No.10, worked extensively with Mitchell while the former All Blacks coach was in charge of the Eagles, guiding the team to automatic qualification for next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan where, ironically, they will now face England along with France, Argentina and Tonga in Pool C.
Now, Mitchell’s coaching style, which earlier in his career led to player revolts at the Western Force and Golden Lions, will be under the microscope again with England having paid the Bulls £200,000 to get their man released by the South African Super Rugby franchise.
MacGinty expects Mitchell to base his defence on the system used by the Hurricanes to win the 2016 Super Rugby title, creating tries with their aggressive hits and turnovers.
MacGinty told RugbyPass; “John is really detailed with the way he sets up his defence and spent a lot of time in New Zealand with the Hurricanes and their defence which helped them win the Super Rugby title. He likes a really aggressive defence and that will be good for England because the Hurricanes scored a lot of tries off that style. He will bring a lot to the England defence.
“I didn’t have a bad word to say about him when he coached the US and while he is intense you need that when you want to play well at the highest level. You need someone on your case. I read some of the stories about him in previous roles and I found it funny and while I can kind of see it, when he was with us he got the balance right. He was really intelligent and always had something to give you to work on. You were constantly learning and he took my game to the next level. I found him very intense on the pitch but off it we all got on well together.”
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MacGinty discovered early that Mitchell has very strong views on strength and conditioning and puts his players through tough sessions. “Post the last World Cup John came in and made it more professional by setting higher standards and asking more of the guys:” added MacGinty who has played in 20 tests and scored 223 points, including 15 in the win over Scotland.
“His big focus was on fitness levels and about us being able to play for 80 minutes. When you don’t have players involved at the highest level and you come up against teams who have guys playing 30 games of professional rugby a season you end up playing well for 40 minutes and then the opposition clicks into another gear.
“John came in and said our fitness levels weren’t good enough and we had some brutal camps with ball in hand and the metres per minute became the focus which was really interesting to see and it helped us a lot. Our standards became really high and we expected a lot from each other and now in the US, there is a professional league and Gary Gold is building on John’s work. He is adding another dimension to our game.
“With foundations that John laid and Gary’s knowledge, things are going really well. I am sure John will be coming up to Sale to see the England boys and I look forward to catching up with him.”
Read now: Eight players that could thrive under John Mitchell as England defence coach
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
40 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 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.
40 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.
3 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
40 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 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
40 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.
40 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.
40 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.
40 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.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments