Post-Mitchell era starts for Bulls
BULLS: FRANCHISE TO RETAIN BLUEPRINT FOR CURRIE CUP
Despite the controversial manner of his departure from Loftus Versfeld, the Blue Bulls will have no issues continuing with the John Mitchell blueprint in the Currie Cup, coach Pote Human and the players said yesterday.
After another season of Super Rugby underperformance, Mitchell told the board that the Bulls’ problems were caused by poor recruitment and a lack of depth, allegedly asking for R90 million to beef up the squad for 2019.
When the board declined to make this investment, the well-travelled coach then revealed he had been made another offer, which has turned out to be with the England national team.
Although the Bulls had major problems with defence in Super Rugby, Mitchell will apparently be their defence coach in their autumn internationals. All that is left before the 54-year-old leaves is to sort out compensation for the year left on his contract.
“It has had no impact on the team, John put some great structures in place and we will carry on with that. We will take the John Mitchell blueprint and tweak it for the players we’ve got for the Currie Cup. But we will stay with the new way of playing and training because it is working and I think that is the way going forward,” Human said at Loftus Versfeld yesterday.
For the players, there seems to be a general feeling of acceptance that Mitchell is gone, even if it is tinged with sadness.
“Everyone is frustrated with how the year has gone and now John Mitchell is on his way again. He changed a lot of things here, and we had just got used to it and now we will have to get used to someone else. But we learnt a lot from him, especially intensity-wise. So that’s a positive and we will keep chasing that,” loose forward Ruan Steenkamp said.
Human said restoring the pride of Bulls rugby is what now concerns him and the Currie Cup squad.
“It’s been nine years since we won the Currie Cup and eight since the Super Rugby title. We need something to bring the crowds back and we want to be able to walk in the street with our Bulls shirts on and for people to get excited to see us. My focus is on attitude and getting the pride back in the Bulls jersey,” Human said.