Mitchell: I’ve changed
Sixteen years on from his Rugby World Cup heartbreak with the All Blacks, a softer version of John Mitchell is trying to win the title for England.
It’s been a sometimes painful evolution for the controversial New Zealander who oversaw the All Blacks’ 2003 semifinal exit to the Wallabies and instantly lost his job.
Ironically that defeat came at the hands of Eddie Jones who he now plays assistant to in an England set-up that are among the strong contenders at Japan 2019.
Two hard-nosed coaches combine. Now, as The Times puts it, everyone wonders: How will bad cop, bad cop work?
But Mitchell insists he’s a coach with a new approach and much of that has to do with that gutting World Cup experience with the All Blacks.
“I was pretty hard on myself for four years. It was tough, I didn’t want to lose a World Cup,” Mitchell, 55, told The Times.
“We bombed out of the World Cup on an intercept pass. Even to this day, I look back and I go back over the training sessions that week and I probably should have spent a bit more time on the breakdown. We were a pretty confident team and Australia got us in the breakdown that evening. I have to take responsibility for that.”
He has taken responsibility and slowly but surely brought about changes in his own game.
“I am the first to acknowledge that I have always been a strong coach and I haven’t always got it right,” he said.
“Back then, I was trying to prove something, I was trying to prove that I was a coach. I don’t feel like that now. I don’t think I need to prove anything to anyone. Now I care about my role and supporting people. Too often, younger coaches feel you have to have ‘coach’ on your hat.
“I used to jump in a lot more. I am now far less at the athlete and more working with the athlete, challenging him to find out what he knows more than trying to tell him what to do. In my early coaching life, you are looking to solve it for the player because you think you have something special to offer,” he told The Times. test against Tonga in Hamilton two Saturdays ago, scoring a try and putting his hand up for the All Blacks’ No 12 jersey for their opening Rugby World Cup game against the Springboks on Saturday.
Crotty looks to be locked in a battle with Sonny Bill Williams for the No 12 jersey, with Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue contesting the centre position.
The All Blacks also have the option of playing Williams and Crotty together, a partnership they preferred in 2017.
While Crotty lacks Williams’ size and offloading ability, O’Gara said his tactical awareness is second to none and he would be the perfect foil for either Richie Mo’unga or Beauden Barrett at No 10.
“He’s a believer in the simple things, someone who places huge value in preparation,” O’Gara said.
“Walk through any potential scenario and he’ll have a few corkers up his sleeve. He’s not the most instinctive player but he is very, very thorough in his preparation. “Crotty can break your balls as a coach.” The All Blacks will name their team on Thursday. a group.
It was also noted by several social media commentators that the Tongan team - who boast one of the biggest squads at the tournament - were flying economy class. Their final warmup match for the World Cup was a 92-7 loss to the All Blacks in Hamilton earlier this month.