John Mitchell ... first class talker ... B class coach ... ??

By hook or by crook, current Bulls coach John Mitchell has escaped criticism for the majority of his coaching career.

Until now.

In much the same manner as the All Blacks who lead the way in the World Rugby rankings, New Zealand coaches are light-years ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to coaching.

The exceptions?

Brad Thorn and John Mitchell.

But this column isn't about Thorn's infant coaching career as he finds his feet at the Reds, it's about how Mitchell has found his way into coaching roles in Ireland, England, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the USA with limited, to NO success.

Don't get me wrong, Mitchell talks a great game, but he's seemingly unable to translate that onto the field of play.

After stints as Ireland and England forwards coach in the 1990s, Mitchell took over at the Chiefs between 2000-2001 where the Waikato-based franchise won a mere 3 and 6 (out of 11) matches in Super 12 those seasons, (27% and 55% win rate) respectively, comfortably missing out on the playoffs on both occasions.

Mitchell was then handed the All Blacks coaching job where he won 23 of the 28 Tests he was in charge, before being axed after New Zealand's third-place finish at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Mitchell's next high-profile role was at the Western Force between 2006-2010 where he took charge of the Perth-based side in their maiden Super 14 season (in 2006).

The Force won the following number of matches in Mitchell's five years at the club (out of 13 matches):

2006 - 1 (8%)

2007 - 6 (46%)

2008 - 7 (54%)

2009 - 6 (46%)

2010 - 4 (31%)

OVERALL: 24/65 or 37%

Mitchell was released after the 2010 season and headed to South Africa where he took over as coach at the Lions for two seasons.

In 2011 the Lions, now playing in the Super 15, won 3 matches and finished 14th out of the 15 teams competing (19% win rate).

In 2012 the Johannesburg-based side fared even worse, winning 3 matches and finishing as wooden-spoonists (again, 19% win rate).

In June 2012 Mitchell was suspended after complaints from Lions players regarding the manner in which they were treated, but in November of that year he was found not guilty of the charges and reinstated as head coach.

However, a week later Mitchell accepted a role with the Sale Sharks in the UK ... only for Sale to announce Mitchell had returned to South Africa citing "personal reasons" the very next month.

Following the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Mitchell was linked to both the vacant Stormers and England jobs, but the Cape side were reportedly warned off appointing Mitchell (rumoured to be by Golden Lions Rugby Union president Kevin de Klerk as well as several players), while Eddie Jones was handed the England role.

In January 2016 Mitchell was named head coach of the USA, an appointment which was met with a degree of puzzlement given that Mitchell had stated he was not interested in working for a "minor" side such as Tonga or Scotland (who he had reportedly turned down in 2013).

Mitchell's 'stay' in the United States soon led to friction with reports suggesting he refused to relocate to America, preferring to attempt to coach the national team from his home in South Africa, while also refusing to help American rugby coaches develop.

Unsurprisingly, Mitchell left after 8 wins from 19 matches (42% win rate) and in May 2017 took over as Blue Bulls Executive of Rugby and Bulls Super Rugby coach.

Mitchell's maiden season in Pretoria has been a disaster in terms of results, with the Bulls having won five matches (with two remaining) in the 2018 season.

In the previous five Super 15 seasons, the Bulls won the following numbers of matches (out of 16):

2011 - 10

2012 - 10

2013 - 12

2014 - 7

2015 - 7

While there's been widespread talk of an "exciting" new Bulls gameplan under Mitchell, talking doesn't win you matches on the field of play. Just look at the log!

Neither does promising to be "better next year" or "building for the future".

That's nothing more than a slap in the face to other teams and coaches suggesting they themselves won't improve and will simply sit by idly and wait for the Bulls to play catch-up.

Case in point, Scott Robertson, who in his FIRST season as Crusaders coach in 2017 didn't come up with excuses, but rather put an end to a nine-year title drought. What's more, in his second season at the helm, Robertson looks set to successfully defend that title come August.

Furthermore, the so-called Loftus 'faithful' haven't bought what Mitchell has been selling with shocking attendances at the Bulls' matches this season, but bizarrely the Blue Bulls Rugby Union appear mesmerised by Mitchell, making signing him up for the long-term a priority.

Where the Stormers correct in saying "no thanks" to Mitchell? Is he the sort of coach that at best will deliver a 40%-odd win rate? Is he a first-class talker, but a B-class coach?

Certainly gets one thinking ...

Oh-oh!! The cowardly tail tucker is back.

SharkShit ... that I'm afraid doesn't change the fact that Mitchell hasn't had a success story with any of the teams he's coached so far.

Nix ... nada  ... fokol.

He has a history of failure ... who much like Ludeke, knows how to talk the talk ... but that's where it dies a miserable death. 

We all saw what happened against the Sunwolves. Explain that one away if you can.

lol!!!

Besides ... the Bulls were being taught how to play the game of rugby (at home) until the altitude took it's toll.

One can't argue against the facts ... much like you and your love for Kolisi the quota ... sadly neither of them are up to the task.

Suck it up, coward!!    

New Zealanders are task based people. They get organised and keep things going consistently. If sometimes goes wrong they identify the problem and fix it. It's very simple. There is no mystery to what they do. South Africans don't understand what they do and the Wallaroos are too egotistical to give in an expand their horizons because they think its beneath them. New Zealand is the Middle ground between South Africa's forward prowess and Australia's backline prowess. They don't always do everything better than everyone else but they do everything well enough to be competitive in every area of the game. If the World Cup we ate them up at the breakdown and they still won because they could kick for territory, in 2009 we beat them in the air and the breakdown and they adjusted in 2010. In 2004 they were stuffed and adjusted. People were saying the Lions were going to destroy them and calling for Henry to be axed. They don't make knee jerk reactions. Carter has missed tons of kicks and botched the 2009 Tri Nations with an intercept pass that Jean cooly dotted down. The fans didn't turn on him and neither did the coaches lose faith in him. New Zealanders are logical people and culturally superior to South Africans. I don't mean to be hurting feelings. New Zealand coaches aren't magicians. They are just objectively minded and straight to the point. If something needs to be done, they just get it done. 

Now Mitch. He is a bad egg personality wise. He can't handle people. An even worse Eddie Jones. But because he is a New Zealander South Africans fall over themselves for him. McCaw could have had him in 2008 but said no. He said Mitch wasn't good enough to coach New Zealand but we want him to coach the Boks so we can catch up to New Zealand. It's senseless.

You sure do sound a lot like Mozart.

Same likes and dislikes ... a similar style of putting your words together.

Are you two related?

I'm not related to Mozart. We don't agree on everything either. We actually haven't spoken much to each otherm

So? What does speaking to each other have anything to do with it?

You two could be one and the same for all I know.

Besides ... to deceive us, it would be wise to start chatting with yourself ... um ... I mean ... each other. That way we can all assume that a knowledgeable newcomer has joined our ranks. 

I am convinced that Mike gets into heated debates with himself regularly ... and so the thought of you having a lengthy discussion with yourself would not seem that strange ... not on this board any way.

At least we can expect a good back and forth with out all the name calling ... so by all means ... the floor is yours.

Whatever you say. 

Whatever you say. 

Oh come now ... don't pout!!

I am merely making my observations known. It needed to be said. We both know that. 

I find your posts and points of view interesting ... dare I say, a breath of fresh air.

CC

In the main I agree with your comments above.   The problem is not Mitchell alone - any NZ coach in SA has been attacked by Mozart and co - for instance Plumtree.   

I can understand that the Bulls has had a below-par season - but they had poor seasons ever since 2014 and this year there are signs of improvement in the fact that they had some really good games and beat teams like the Hurricanes and the Jaguares.  They also beat the Stormers - something which has not happened for years before.   

Over the last three years the Bulls lost a lot of players.   In 2014 they got the top three players from the Cheetahs team - but never used them properly and the game plan they expected them to play was totally foreign from what it should to be.    I think that part of the problem with the Bulls this year is the fact that the players have been to an extent unfit and not fitting in with the game plan Mitchell envisaged.

As to Mozart and Lurker - I am not sure - but they could be the same character using different names.   They always agree o everything but then we have one point which I cannot remember Mozart wrote before.  Lurker definitely in the past used a different name - but attacked Folau is a sub-standard player and he repeated it again recently.  

However, Lurker may be a different  member - but we have at least three arse creepers supporting everything Mozart says on site.     

Actually we do not agree on everything and I never said Folau was substandard. You are a really bad liar Clever Mike. Maybe you are saying that because my post exposed your stated fact that it is ALWAYS a bad idea to kick directly into a players hands. I used Folau as an example of it working to win a test. Like I actually said if Folau was a rubbish player it would have been an invalid point to make. I chose Folau because it directly contradicted your entire argument. You said it was a fact that it should NEVER be done. It worked TWICE for the entirety of both tests. But now you tell everyone that I said he is substandard and won't even admit that I disproved you facts of the game. Clever Mike you really are letting yourself down. The past few days you've been getting more and more aggressive and dishonest as you don't get your own way. I don't care if people don't agree with me but I do care when someone puts words in my mouth or flat out lies about what I said completely. 

I'm pretty sure he was talking about Clever Mike. 

Mozart

There is never an excuse you would not dream up.   I can remember how you blame the losses o teams against the Cheetahs being due to different playing conditions - but it did not apply to the cheetahs having to play in unfamiliar NH conditions.  

The Argentinians travelled to Australia = a much longer journey and finished up beating all the teams they played against in Australia and NZ.    They came to SA and got beaten by the Bulls so some excuse have to be invented to cover the problem you have created for yourself by BS statements on the site.

Try again stupid - we have enough of the BS from you - egg mountain.      

Lurker as to the Folau story you came up on site with a statement on site  and when  I questioned it you even posted an old newspaper article to support your stupid misrepresentation facts.  Stop lying and ask Mozart what happens to liars on the site. 

They change what they originally wrote on site to try and get out of the BS they created for themselves.   My advice is go and find the posting before somebody find it and remove the newspaper article you quoted too asap. 

No Mozart

You are the liar on site - nobody else can be compared with you.   

PSG?? Not even an apology.

Denying photographic and video evidence and then accusing Pakie of changing angles??? 

Shamefull!!

Lurker where did you get that info about McCaw saying no to working with Mitchell in 2008.

As far as I can remember after the RWC loss in 2007 it was a 2 horse race between Henry and Robbie Deans. I cant believe Mitchell was even a remote option to take over as the NZ rugby public (the most intelligent and informed supporters in the world) would have strung up the NZRFU board if they even mentioned him being considered

I checked up on that and you're right Cruesaderfan. But I did read something where McCaw commented on Mitch. It was around the same time period. 

This guy must be given a break, or understanding and love, he must train a team made with SA players, and a number of them being quotas.

It is an ordeal, an impossible mission.

Trad, nothing better in Dumbfuckistan today than to trol Saffers? Where dit it go wrong for you?

Actually, SA rugby put out too many tales to follow. A long list to catch up on.

Slowing down would be welcomed even though not possible.

Mitchell 1st class talker, and A hole.  F class coach...there's a reason he coaches around the world...he cant get a coaching job in NZ....he wont advance the game in SA because all he's worried about is who's going to pay him more to "coach" .

polyboy

Mitchell has thriving business interests in SA and that is the main reason he is here.   The coaching issue is small compared to his private business income. . 

The lions need all the help they can get, from a South African perspective in Super Rugby, so even though I am a Bulls fan, I hope they win this weekend. But our teams make a habit of screwing each other when it really counts.