Mitchell’s new system demands more of his Blue Bulls’ players
PRETORIA: The culling at Loftus Versfeld is far from over and now John Mitchell will focus his attention on the team and their bid for Currie Cup glory.
The Bulls domestic campaign has gone pear-shaped after suffering their third consecutive loss last weekend to the Free State Cheetahs and as much as Mitchell has identified much of the team’s problems having come from coaching and administration, it is likely the former All Blacks mentor will implement changes on the field in order to arrest the team’s losing run.
Mitchell will be in charge on Friday evening in Nelspruit when the Bulls face the Pumas and as much as they have been hit by a string of injuries, Mitchell remains confident the team can close off the first round of the competition with a win and mount a serious challenge for the title.
“The Currie Cup is very much about developing new systems but it is also important to give ourselves the best shot of winning it. We still have a chance at that reality but we’ll obviously have to do it the hard way,” Mitchell said.
In trying to implement a new system at Loftus, Mitchell will have to also contend with making a few changes to the team that played against the Cheetahs after flank Shaun Adendorff, lock Irne Herst, centre Burger Odendaal and fullback Warrick Gelant all suffered knee injuries on Saturday.
While captain Boom Prinsloo returns after a bout of flu, it seems looks like Mitchell could make wholesale changes with prop Lizo Gqoboka, lock Ashton Fortuin, flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff and utility back Joshua Stander all set to get a run.
The Bulls have struggled with their defence all season, but Mitchell is confident that as soon as the team grasps the new system, they will be a real threat.
“We actually defended well on Saturday. It is probably the best overall defence improvement we’ve had. We had an old way and the old way certainly isn’t going to bring us to dizzy heights again. The new way is creating greater demands on the energy system but once it arrives and everyone is on the same page, I would say look out.”
Already impressed with the manner in which his team utilises ball in hand, Mitchell is demanding more from his players and believes that they could be title contenders.
“We are very capable on attack but we are nowhere near where we need to be. Just imagine when we start defending and start extracting more turnover ball and converting that. It is exciting to be in transition. I can feel it and I can see it but we still have a long way to go,” Mitchell said.