Mitchell ‘worth $940,000’
New Zealand coach John Mitchell has continued to get kudos from an old boss and the media after England’s storming Six Nations win over Ireland.
Mitchell – hired by Eddie Jones last September as England’s defence coach – has been credited for ‘‘the white wall that nullified’’ Ireland in a 32-20 win in Dublin on Saturday (Sunday NZT).
Sir Clive Woodward – Mitchell’s boss during the Kiwi’s stint as England’s forwards coach from 1997 to 2000 – paid tribute to England head coach Eddie Jones and Mitchell for their strategy.
‘‘Ireland had no answer and it has been a while since we have said that,’’ Woodward wrote in his regular Daily Mail column.
‘‘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.’’
Mitchell left his role as director of rugby at the Bulls in South Africa to work with England.
According to a September 2018 report in The Times, Mitchell is reportedly earning $560,000 (£300,000) and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) had to pay the Bulls $380,000 (£200,000) compensation to let Mitchell go, mid-contract.
The Daily Star has now proclaimed Mitchell has already delivered a top return on investment.
‘‘England’s secret weapon for the Six Nations and World Cup later this [year] has taken just one wondrous game to be revealed,’’ Daily Star chief sportswriter 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.’’
Paul Rees, writing for The Guardian, said the ‘‘Twickenham bean-counters who to fork out to release’’ Mitchell from his Bulls contract, ‘‘wondered why their head coach was keen on someone with whom he had never worked’’.
‘‘Saturday showed why, as
England won the battle of the gainline.
‘‘Mako Vunipola and Mark Wilson led the tackle count, but the way Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola picked off the runners coming round the corner was key in making Ireland play behind the advantage line, slowing down their possession and forcing them to kick on the back foot.
‘‘The looseness that afflicted England last year was nowhere.’’
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt said after the game that Mitchell had ‘‘stirred up’’ England, who ‘‘responded incredibly well’’.