Mitchell excited by US potential

John Mitchell isn’t promising any instant miracles, but believes the United States can be a force in international rugby in a decade.

The former All Blacks coach has just been appointed to a fouryear term in charge of the US Eagles and is clearly enthused by the potential.

The United States is seen as a massive market for rugby to try to crack. New Zealand and other countries are eager to build ties there, a professional competition is about to be launched and Mitchell said the rapid development of the national sevens team was proof of their potential. But he pleaded for a bit of patience.

‘‘I think XVs is still a long way off. A decade to 12 years might give you an indication of greater success at a World Cup,’’ Mitchell said in an interview with Radio Sport on Friday.

‘‘But that is directly proportional to the investment that is put in the game and also the recruitment and development of players in the game over the period. They’re very much in their infancy but they have the resources to get better.’’

The US sevens team beat New Zealand at the last tournament in South Africa and is tracking well towards this year’s Olympics.

He felt the United States could take encouragement from the way Argentina had developed through their association in the Rugby Championship.

‘‘Their first year of professionalism as a sevens country, they’ve already demonstrated they can be very competitive with the New Zealand sevens and South Africa. I think we’ve all got to take encouragement of the development of Argentina and the style of football they’ve generated in the last three years as well. To me nothing’s impossible to improve from where they’ve been.’’

Mitchell’s first game in charge will be against Argentina next month.

The 51-year-old is eager to get stuck in to coaching again. He is disappointed at the way his hame has been tarnished by controversies in Australia and South Africa over Super Rugby assignments with the Western Force and Lions.

Question marks over player management have dogged him, and ultimately cost him a chance of returning to the Super Rugby scene with the Stormers in South Africa where he had been tipped to take over form the rapidly departed Eddie Jones.

He saw his move to the United States as a fresh start.

‘‘At the end of the day I’ve never been charged with any of the allegations. It’s only perception only. I’ve had to deal with a fair bit of politics in my time but I’m heading into an environment where there is stability above me,’’ Mitchell said. ‘‘The Lions situation was orchestrated. I was basically cleared of all 28 allegations and clearly [President of the South African Rugby Union] Oregan Hoskin and [Golden Lions president] Kevin de Klerk have still got a vendetta against me here in South Africa. So my expertise isn’t warranted.

‘‘This opportunity in many ways is the better of the opportunities.’’