Bulls Director of Rugby John Mitchell gave a harsh assessment of what he has found at the Pretoria-based union, saying “we have been a club that has forgotten about standards” as he moves to restructure the Bulls coaching teams.
Mitchell went further to say that the Bulls have been “living in blame, excuse mode and denial” and that this mindset has to change if the team are to move forward and reclaim the glory that won them three Vodacom Super Rugby titles.(Yep precisely so they have bought up all the talent their ill gotten gain afforded them and made a mess of things. Its all about to change)
Mitchell was reacting to criticism from former Springboks about the restructuring to the extent that while coach Nollis Marais was removed, nothing was done about the team’s recruitment under High Performance Manager Xander Janse van Rensburg.
Former Springbok Bakkies Botha was outspoken on Supersport’s programme Toks ‘n Tjops on Friday night about the union’s recruitment processes which have stagnated the team’s success, in his view.
“Who is Xander? He is apparently the guy who does the Bulls’ recruitment. I think if they have to review his performance, he will get the first letter of his name (an X),” Botha said on the show.
Former Springbok captain Wynand Claassen has added his voice to the disenchantment, saying it made no sense to restructure the teams and simply remove the coach.
“What does it help to fire the coach,” Claassen told netwerk24, “but the roleplayers who appointed him aren’t held to account. There is obviously a much bigger problem than Nollis’ coaching at the union. The actual problem at the union is higher up, where certain individuals are untouchable.” (LIKE AT WP)
Mitchell fielded questions about the Sunday night restructuring of the three-time Super Rugby champions and made it clear that from now on, with him as Director of Rugby, standards would have to be much higher. (I can almost hear the squeals from down here in Cape Town)
Mitchell defended Janse van Rensburg, saying he was given too much responsibility and that he would work with him and long-serving Chief executive Barend van Graan to ensure the recruitment process works well from now on.
But it was clear that he believed excuses must stop and that standards need to rise.
Since the management team that won Super Rugby had left there has been an ever increasing string of departures from Loftus, with many of the players going on to become Springboks at other unions, while the acquisitions seem to have gone backwards in terms of form.(AS NOTED MANY A TIME BY BEENO)
Some of the players who have exited Loftus to become Boks include Courtnal Skosan, Franco Mostert, Faf de Klerk, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Robbie Coetzee (all Lions), Francois Venter (Cheetahs), Jano Vermaak (Stormers), while players like SP Marais and Wilco Louw (Stormers) and William Small-Smith (Cheetahs) have all excelled since leaving Pretoria.
In contrast, the acquisitions such as former Bok captain Adriaan Strauss, lock Lood de Jager, prop Trevor Nyakane and halfback Piet van Zyl have seen their form stagnate.
“It’s a big role being High Performance Manager, and Xander had a huge day yesterday. He and Barend had huge days. I think the great opportunity for Xander now is that I’m in the club and we can work together and he can’t do it on his own. In some ways he has probably been put in a situation where he has had too much to do,” Mitchell said.
“To be totally fair when you’ve seen his workflow and what he has been responsible and accountable for it has been huge.
“We’ve got a great opportunity, Barend, Xander and myself to work as a team in making sure that we serve the athlete first. Everyone in the club who has a support role has a responsibility to serve the athlete first. Egos have to be put aside and outcomes have to be put aside, and at the end of the day we have to make sure we stick to the processes. That is the key.(BULLE ARE KNOWN TO HAVE BIG EGOES!!)
“Unfortunately we have been a club that has forgotten about standards. We have been living in blame, excuse mode and denial and now we are changing that mindset and setting new standards. Everyone would like it to be quicker in terms of the transition but it is important that I’m being very patient in the process.
“I’m expecting everyone in leadership roles to be calm, because that is the only way that you move forward.”
Mitchell has laid down his law early in his tenure, and the Bulls recruitment will need to improve if they are to match the other unions.
But it will be a process, and it will take time.
Oaks I think you will see real results even next year. Danger is that the going will be too tough for the bulle under Mitchell and that he will be squealed out of office. Much like the sharks did with JAKE WHITE. Ou John Smith never had the good sense to stick with Jake and caved into players moans and groans
