ENGLAND TURN TO CONTROVERSIAL MITCHELL

JOHN MITCHELL, the former All Blacks coach, will finally become England’s defence coach after the RFU agreed a deal close to £500,000 to sign him for their World Cup challenge. The 54-year-old (left) is expected to link up with Eddie Jones’ squad at this weekend’s Bristol training camp and is now contracted until the end of the tournament in Japan next year. Sportsmail reported last month that Mitchell’s arrival was imminent, as soon as the RFU and the Pretoria-based Super Rugby side, the Blue Bulls, had thrashed out compensation. Those talks have dragged on and it is understood the RFU had to shell out £200,000 to prise Mitchell from his head coach role in South Africa, and will pay him in the region of £300,000 in salary — taking the package to £500k. This will be Mitchell’s 17th job in 24 years as a coach. It is the second time he has worked with England. In 1997, he was appointed forwards coach by Clive Woodward, but returned home in 2000. He is not unfamiliar with English club rugby either, having worked with Wasps and Sale Sharks. Mitchell coached the All Blacks for two years, but was sacked after losing to Jones’ Australia in the 2003 World Cup semi-final. Some of his departures from roles have been acrimonious. His All Blacks exit was surrounded by allegations of fractured relationships with staff and a ‘booze-culture’ within the side. Mitchell later wrote in his autobiography that the situation was ‘blown out of all proportion’. Then when coaching Perth’s Western Force in 2008-09 reports surfaced of a ‘player revolt’. An enquiry into his behaviour centred on his treatment of players and staff — he was cleared and resumed his role as head coach until 2010 before leaving his contract a year early. And in 2012 Mitchell was suspended by Johannesburg-based franchise the Lions after players complained about his management. One player later labelled him a ‘demon’, saying he treated the players like ‘animals’, but Mitchell was cleared of all misconduct charges. He quit six months later citing ‘vendettas’ against him in South Africa. England also announced that Australian Scott Wisemantel will continue as attack coach. Meanwhile, fresh from guiding South Africa to a shock win over New Zealand in Wellington, Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus has been named coach of the Barbarians for their December 1 clash with Argentina in Twickenham.