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'When I was here 20 years ago I had the chance to stay on as well and I went back to New Zealand probably too early'
John Mitchell has suggested the feeling there is unfinished business with England was the reason why he signed a contract extension this week, not only because they failed to finish the job at the 2019 World Cup but also because of what he decided 21 years ago, quitting his assistant’s role under Clive Woodward and missing out on 2003 World Cup glory.
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England wanted him to stay on as forwards coach but he instead went back to New Zealand to become head coach at the Super Rugby Chiefs, a decision that was effectively a Test level sliding doors moment.
While Mitchell soon went on to coach the All Blacks, his native country were defeated in the 2003 semi-finals by Eddie Jones’ Australia who themselves were pipped in the final by Woodward’s England, the team Mitchell could still have been working for had he decided to stick rather than twist after the 2000 Six Nations title was clinched.
That 21-year-old decision was something he touched on when explaining his reasons for sticking by the current England crop who will look to make amends in France in 2023 for falling at the final hurdle in Japan versus the Springboks in 2019.
“When I was here 20 years ago I had the chance to stay on as well and I went back to New Zealand probably too early but the reasons were to take our children back to grandparents,” he explained. “This time I am in a position where it just feels right.
The defence coach has been working under Eddie Jones since 2018#GuinnessSixNations
https://t.co/nhfPCMcPvy— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 2, 2021
“It just feels right to continue to invest in this team, invest in the players and invest in myself in terms of getting better. For me, the outcome is a byproduct of really good preparation, finding new ways and just dealing in the moment.
“This side has so much more potential, has so much more in it. We don’t realise how much better we can get and I want to be a part of helping the players and the team find that way, it just excites me.
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“You have a choice, don’t you? You have a choice to go and take on leadership yourself at a high level, you have the choice to accept mediocrity and lower standards, or you have the choice to give up young. I’m not really for any of those things at this moment in time.
“This environment challenges me hugely to being the best I possibly can for the player group and I enjoy the energy of the players, I enjoy the energy of the staff and the coaches. It fits well for me. It’s just a feeling that I think is right.
“I really like the mix of experience and youth that is coming through. They give off really good energy. They work hard, they want to get better, there is a huge desire in our group, there is a willingness to wanting to get better and it’s what you want to be around and that’s who you want to be with.
“It was a tough call,” continued Mitchell, again referencing his 2000 England departure, “and then to become an adversary as well during that window. After the ’99 World Cup, we were extremely disappointed but we went on to win that first-ever Six Nations the following year.
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“Woody [Woodward] at the time asked me to stay but I had already committed travel and furniture and all those sorts of things back to New Zealand. That’s the fate of choice, isn’t it?”
Mitchell went on from the Chiefs and the All Blacks to having numerous head coaching positions elsewhere in South Africa and Australia and with the USA national team, but the 56-year-old insisted he is satisfied with his current defence coach position under Jones.
With NH Test rugby under fire for lack of entertainment, England assistant John Mitchell has recalled how 'style of play' used to be a part of his Super Rugby job performance review #AutumnNationsCup #ENGvFRA
https://t.co/2DMch9JOB1— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 2, 2020
“I can still think like a head coach but I can behave as an assistant coach,” he quipped. “That is the simplicity around it. It’s important that I bring my head coaching to a number of situations.
“I have got an obligation to fill the cracks, I have got an obligation to think ahead, I have an obligation to bring solutions to Eddie and to the coaching group… assistant coaching these days is very much around co-coaching and working together.
“It [head coach] is something I can do but it is something I’m not even focused on. If I was going to head coach, if I had that motivation right now, I would probably not have made the (contract extension) decision that I have made.
“I’m very happy and grateful, enjoying the role of assistant coach. Early on it took some adaption and adjustment. It’s a tough job but it sits with me a lot easier.”
“The thing I needed to improve was freeing myself up in terms of not being afraid of getting injured"
– How an Eddie Jones pep talk was vital to getting Billy Vunipola back to his wrecking-ball best with England #GuinnessSixNations https://t.co/HH4O3nt4Vb
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 30, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
7 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
43 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
7 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
7 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
7 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
7 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
7 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
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