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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.
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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.”
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Read now: Eight players that could thrive under John Mitchell as England defence coach
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments