Kriel - Mitchell mentorship a step up

The following from News24:-

"Springbok and Bulls midfielder Jesse Kriel says he enjoys the approach John Mitchell has brought to the Pretoria franchise.

READ: Jenkins injury boost for Bulls

Kriel got his first bit of action in 2018 when he came on in the second half of last Saturday’s 21-12 warm-up win over the Jaguares in Pretoria.

The 23-year-old set up a try for team-mate Warrick Gelant when he broke through the Jaguares defence in spectacular fashion.

“Warrick’s try was the result of the game plan that Mitch brought in. The idea is to work hard and to put yourself in such positions on the field. I think we’ll see more of that this season,” Kriel told Netwerk24.

Kriel described Mitchell’s mentorship as “refreshing” at this stage of his career - he boasts 29 Test caps for the Boks.

“It’s definitely a step up from what we’re used to. You learn something new every day and the players want to come here every day to improve. I think the players enjoy it.”

While attempting to get the Bulls to adopt a more attacking approach, Mitchell earlier stressed that he wouldn't deviate from the team's traditional strengths.

"I think we will still be traditional, still be strong in our set-piece, and we’re always seeking to play better attacking rugby but you also have to be able to go without the ball as well and be comfortable with that and present yourself opportunities,” Mitchell told SuperSport.com earlier this month.

The Bulls have a bye this weekend and will open their 2018 Super Rugby campaign at home against the Hurricanes on Saturday, February 24 (17:15 kick-off)."

This really is an indication of what deficiency in coaching by Ludeke and Marais did to the Bulls and what a handicap they were to the team.   The same applies to Meyer and Coetzee  who were coaching the Springboks when Kriel played in tests.

The message is beginning to sink in as to what negative impact coaches l ike Meyer, Coetzee, Ludeke and Marais had on rugby in SA. 

It's a tough opening match for the Bulls.

It would be a hell of a scalp to start the season off with.

We know that Odendaal has the inside track at 13 and I guess that's why Kriel's kissing Mitch's ass.

I cant 's see him getting much game time other than at 15 and then he's up against an inform Gelant. 

Kriel at 15. I don't think there is enough form in the world to lose that would see Kriel replacing Galant haha. It's like a different universe. Most probably agree.

Ismael and Jemba are both better players too.

LOL Kriel. Who knows, maybe the coaching has been his only problem. I mean...Heyneke, then Coetzee and Nobbis.

Van Zyl, Pollard, Ismael, Jackson, Odendaal, Ulengo, Gelant.

He may get a bit of time from the bench as a utility back covering wing, full back and centre ... other than that he just doesn't have the technique to be part of the run on team.

I don't understand why Mitch included him in the squad. Hopefully it's not to play Odendaal at 12 with Kriel coming in at 13. That would be a mistake.  

Nobody said that stooge.   He merely said he gets better coaching from Mitchell than what he was subjected to in the past.   We all know that Meyer was clueless when it came to backline play  coaching and Coetzee was worse,   

Nobody said that stooge.   He merely said he gets better coaching from Mitchell than what he was subjected to in the past.   We all know that Meyer was clueless when it came to backline play  coaching and Coetzee was worse,   

Kriel has a lot of talent. Some still fail to realise how badly the Bulle and Boks have been stuffed up by bad coaches. 

A warning to some here. Kriel is a good center and under correct management by Mitchell could severely embarrass the oaks. Rather wait and see what Mitchell draws from him.

Well ... if that's the case then let him learn his trade ... on his own time ... but not as part of the match 23. He can be brought off the bench later in the season to show us his so called talent.

I do not subscribe to teaching some one how to play rugby in a test match and nor do I condone teaching one the simple basics of the sport in top level matches. He should have had that down pat ages ago.

If he wants to be part of the clan then he needs to put in the hard yards.

The only thing he has going for him at this stage in time is a bit of pace and a strong body. Nothing else. Teaching him to play rugby would be like starting a 7 year old off from scratch.

CC I have noted before that Bok backline players do not play well as a unit. Apart from Willie Le Roux who has really shone. It more about bad game plans and poor coaching than players.

CC

In a way I agree with Beeno here - hard it is to do that,   The problem with SA rugby is that the skills have been coached out of backline players through poor game plans and even the total absence of such plans.

Take for instance the 2015 WC - where the loosies took over the function of the flyhalf and where the backline was totally sabotaged by Meyer - if the ball went the way of backline players they had to crashball or just kick the ball away.   Ludeke was even worse than Meyer and Coetzee and Marais were the pits.

The only team that changed that donkey style of play with excellent results was the Lions - so let hope the new coaches would help - in the national interest - also improve their comprehensive performances,   I have particular hope for the Sharks and the Bulls in this regard.   I do not have the same faith in respect of the Stormers - Fleck had ample opportunity and did not do much,    Mind you there were minor signs of improvement even last year in t heir case.       

I hear you Beeno.

Agree fully on the coaching saga.

At the same time though, there have been too many instances where Kriel's poor rugby instinct has shone through.

A good coach might turn him into a "decent" player but a guys like Kwagga, Ismael, Pollard, Galant, JSVR, Faf, Combrink and others cold be truly world class.

Kriel looks the part and has the attributes but something is just not right there.

For some reason i really rate Ismael. Anyone else here think he might be able to play wing for the Boks?

Give me Kwagga and Werner Kok as the Bok centers.  There is real class there. 

But you have to have the right loose foward combo. Also need an attacking scrummie like Faf and a great running 15 like Le Roux- Gelant looks promising as well.  Throw in an inform Pollard or Du Preez and  bigger speedy wings and we could show what is possible - given the right coaches of course.

I see ou maaaikie is agreeing with me -as they say even a stuck clock is right twice day!

"Give me Kwagga and Werner Kok as the Bok centers.  There is real class there. "

Spoken like a proper redneck!

1. Beeno honestly, just because they have size, decent speed and can play sevens, does not mean they have the ability to make an international center.
2. Do they understand 15's defensive patterns in the midfield?
3. Will they gel well?
4. Are their hands good enough for inside center?
5. How well will they cope in different defensive systems?
6. How are their communication skills?

All we know for sure is that they are great runners with space and they can offliad well (in sevens)

Stop being shortsighted and quick on the gun brother.

I agree on Kwagga possibly being a good centre.

He has very solid defence and hold attackers up nicely. Habitually hets over the advantage line. Very difficult to bring down.

Times offloads well, is always running off teammates shoulders, puts players in space, finds space himself.

Nobody has communication with his parter until he has played next to him and defensive patterns arent rocket science.

The pros for him being a centre vastly outweigh the cons in my book.

And if we're talking a good mix of skill and tenacity in our centre combo then OMG Kok offer that in spades.

Also remember that Kwagga does what he does while playing one of the most physically demanding positions on the field. At centre, with a tad more in the tank he'll only be more fierce.

+he looks like a cop from the 70s. Lekker stonewash jeans and Jarmans. Gooi hom papa.

Mozart

De Villiers was a great center and there is something that he had in abundance  and that was ball sense and skills, but there remains a problem.   Just think how much better a player he would have been if other players with proper coaching could have developed the backline players he played with and if there was a proper and comprehensive game plan in use.   `  

Another article Mozart will hate from News24:-

 
"John Mitchell is back in Super Rugby, and he has the responsibility of steering the once-mighty Bulls away from the disappointment that has accompanied them in recent seasons. 

Ever since they won the last of their three titles in 2010, the Bulls have been in a steady state of decline. 

Last year, for example, they finished the season with just four wins from 15 fixtures as they limped to second from bottom in the South African Group, ahead of only the Sunwolves. 

Along the way, the Bulls have lost their identity. They have gone from being a side that won matches and titles through perfectly combining a bruising, dominant pack and a clinical kicking game to one that has tried, unsuccessfully, to throw the ball around the park and score from everywhere. 

The time was right for a completely fresh start, and that is what the franchise has been given with the arrival of Mitchell. 

Never one to shy away from controversy, the former All Black coach didn't take long to ruffle feathers when he left Springbok scrumhalf Rudy Paige out of his squad for this year's tournament. 

That fittingly signifies that, under Mitchell, the Bulls are on a new path. 

Pre-season has consisted of dietary education, breathing techniques and optimum recovery strategies - a very "different" pre-season, according to flank Roelof Smit. 

"We wrote a test today … that tells you everything," Smit told Sport24 on Tuesday.

But from what he has seen so far, Smit is overly impressed with Mitchell. He, like everyone, had heard the rumours of Mitchell's alleged falling out with players and staff at the Lions.

"You hear stories of how he is and you expect him to be a very strict guy, but all he wants is to be the best," Smit (25) said.

"I can remember speaking to him when I was still injured and he said: 'Roelof, you just do what I tell you to do and you’ll become a better rugby player'.

"He puts you in situations where you have to think for yourself and figure out for yourself what to do. He’s an exceptional coach. I’ve been coached by a couple of coaches and John is leading by far now, to be honest. His knowledge about rugby makes you think."

A big part of the Mitchell philosophy seems to be mental. The Bulls still want to be considered an attacking team, but they need to be measured in their approach and that has a lot to do with the mindset Mitchell is seeking to instil. 

"We're an attacking side, but we take defence personally and we see defence as attack as well when we don’t have the ball," Smit explained. 

"As a group we are improving in every aspect under John. To play his gameplan you have to be the fittest in your position.

"We're on our way there. He’s a very smart and tactical coach, so if we do what he tells us to do and we execute, then I guarantee we will be successful."

The Bulls take on the Hurricanes in their first match of the new season next weekend at Loftus."

Chipped ou take it from the one who knows. Kwagga punches way about his weight. Kok is superbly talented and pretty rugged as his seven shows. Both have huge vision and skills. are fast and step brilliantly.

Of course all this would be nullified by a coach wanting them to be crashballing centers.

Kwagga and Kok have the ability to beat the opposition with brain power. And here we come to the problems some oaks have with Kwagga and Kok as centers. They are UNABLE to recognize brain power for a reason I will for sensitivities sake not mention ! 

I'm not a Bulls fan at all ... and yet I'm excited about their season this year.

Let Mitch do what he does best. Give him the support he wants and he'll produce a potent rugby team. He has a great deal of passion and knowledge. More so than anyone else in this country.

Ackermann took the the credit for Mitch's work. He learnt a great deal from Mitch and because of it finds himself in a cushy job abroad.

The Bulls without Mitch would once again be competing with the Sun Wolves for the wooden spoon.

I think the Bulls are being underestimated ... especially by the ignorant and arrogant kiwis. We are going to see a lot of Springboks emerge from their ranks.

Beeno

I will be most civil for now - so I can put over the point clearly.   

There are very rare examples of where a Sevens player become an international player.   The situation between the two types of rugby is vastly different and the fact is that center is not where they will be of value,

I am a great admirer of Kwagga, Senatla and Kok.   However, none of them played at center is their CC matches,   Kwagga is a loosie - a great one at that - the other two played on the wing and were not equally successful.