Mitchell wins over doubters
Five days after masterminding the defensive assault that knocked Ireland off their stride and drove England to a famous victory in Dublin, the defence coach was glowing with pride again.
His son Daryl yesterday capped his debut for New Zealand’s Twenty20 cricket team by taking the final wicket to finish off India in Wellington.
Look carefully and it appeared the Kiwi hard man was a little dewyeyed as he recalled father-and-son backyard cricket days, the first step on Daryl’s road to representing his country.
Mitchell the man does not match Mitchell the myth, something England’s players have discovered in their first few months of working with the former New Zealand coach.
When Eddie Jones appointed Mitchell last year as successor to Paul Gustard there was a good deal of scepticism about the appointment. Inside the England squad too.
Mitchell had been well thought of as a forwards coach with England under Clive Woodward 20 years ago, but his career since had been turbulent.
Two suspensions – one with the Western Force in Australia and one at the Lions in South Africa, where he was publicly described as a “demon” by a player – pointed to a coach whose methods were right on the edge.
“Your hear the rumours,” said England hooker Jamie George. “But there’s a bit of spice on everything, I’m sure. I can only judge him on what he has been like here and he has been absolutely fantastic.
“He’s got a brilliant relationship with the players. He’s a funny bloke. He gives us a lot of confidence.
“He tells us to be brave, he tells us to be confrontational, and that’s something that’s really important.
“He tells us to just back ourselves. He gives us that confidence to go out there and give it a crack. Even if we’re maybe numbers down that is something he instils in us and that came out at the weekend.”
If Mitchell had to prove himself again – and he did – then he has done so emphatically after the win at the Aviva Stadium. Contracted until the end of the World Cup, a longerterm role is possible.
“What you’re saying is a nice thing to think about and clearly I have got to think about my family,” said Mitchell.
“At the moment I am just really enjoying playing a part and making sure I am doing my job. At the end of the day I work hard, I believe in what I offer. I really believe in the system.
“It has its uniqueness compared to some of the other systems that are around.
“It suits us as English and can be infectious when you get it right. It’s physical and we like to be physical and we enjoy being physical. We just believe that our system caters for everything and we just have to regather our intent again for France.
“It’s about not having ‘what ifs’ and being brave and clear in your role. Any kind of defence at the end of the day reflects yourself individually and reveals how much the team means to you.”
Jones admitted there had been fissures in the England squad last season when results collapsed, but ahead of this championship they have made a special effort to tighten the bond.
A boozy darts night a fortnight ago before the squad flew out to Portugal did the trick according to Henry Slade, who scored two tries in Dublin.
“We had a room, played some darts, had a couple of drinks and had a real good time,” said Slade. “You feel closer to the bloke next to you because you’ve shared experiences off the field.
“It’s not purely business and work; you’re playing with your mates. It feels like you’re back at school playing with your mates, and you genuinely want to do well for them.”
The darts champion, revealed Nathan Hughes, was Courtney Lawes: “He has that long reach and just places the dart in the board.”