Brace yourself for a bull run

Coach Mitchell has charges thoroughly primed and prepped

● John Mitchell calls it evolution. Some however who witnessed the way the Bulls went about their business in the Currie Cup couldn’t help noticing how the Bulls have revved it up.

Their high-on-tempo-and-intensity game left some of their opponents short of breath — and now Mitchell wants his charges to rev it up further in Super Rugby.

“I think it’s evolution,” noted coach Mitchell about an approach far removed from the institutionalised bump and grind the team in blue is renowned for.

“I recognise the traditional strengths,” Mitchell quickly pointed out. “It’s about getting the guys to understand how they can apply pressure with those traditional strengths. It’s also about being ready for the game’s most demanding period and having the ability also to create high game speed.

“The good thing is that everybody has bought into the way we want to do things. They accept standards and take responsibility for that. All the young guys got starts in the trials. The objective all along was to make sure that whether you are selected or not selected in competition that you are ready. That helps create healthy competition.”

A game changer

A game plan that will place a high premium on fitness and skill requires almost cultish buy-in from its practitioners. Some players Mitchell coached in the past didn’t remain devotees but the crop under his guiding hand at Loftus, it seems, are hanging on to every word. Even the Springboks.

“What has been good about them is that they recognised the work ethic and quickly realised that this is a place to learn and get better each day,” said Mitchell when asked about the potential mental bruising the Boks suffered last year.

“Clearly some guys are further ahead than others. That’s just the way it works. They’ve all embraced our new way. They are all looking in good shape and I think they realise that last year was last year.”

The Boks, Mitchell argues, have reason to roll up their sleeves. “They are navigating into a new year and they have to re-establish themselves with the Springbok coaches.

“They can do that by performing well in this competition. They recognise that, and I sense that there is a hunger. They’ve got good knowledge as well. We are in an environment now where we want people to form an opinion and have ideas... to have a process where we can improve aspects of our game plan. It’s been good to have them back.”

One of them, prop Trevor Nyakane, hasn’t exactly settled at the Boks. He moved to the Bulls in 2015 hoping to be the first-choice loosehead but injury to Werner Kruger meant he had to play tighthead, a position in which he is yet to make the same impact.

Nyakane a loosehead

“We are going to look at him at loosehead,” said Mitchell. “He really will be our dual prop, playing loosehead and tighthead. He’s met standards and can play both sides. He had a first trial last weekend at loosehead and he’s coming to grips with how to do things and getting better and better. We’ve got some really healthy competition in the front row.

“We’ve got some really good athleticism as well,” he said, though it’s unlikely he was referring to Nyakane’s dance move repertoire. “They need to continue working together as a front row, because props can start doing things alone. I think they are starting to develop some of the tricks that are required for stability at that level.”

Also crucial to Mitchell’s battle plan is Springbok Handre Pollard. “He’s in good shape and you forget how tall he is. He’s got a high level of professionalism and sets standards for himself. He is very intuitive as well. He’s got that ability to play what he sees.”

The Bulls haven’t won a major trophy since they won Super Rugby in 2010.

Mitchell doesn’t see it as a legacy that will weigh on him or his troops.

“There is always pressure and it is really how you use it and how you embrace it. Somebody else’s history isn’t going to drive your process. Motivation and ambition come from within.

“We want to start winning consistently. That is the bottom line now.”

What He Says We want to start winning consistently. That is the bottom line now John Mitchell Blue Bulls coach