The Tyrant John Mitchell starts at the Sale Sharks

20th December 2012 11:31

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Honest: John Mitchell

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• Robinson fears Sale relegation
• Lewis loaned to London Welsh

John Mitchell has bluntly warned his players that the "excuse culture" surrounding Sale Sharks has to stop to avoid relegation.

 

 

The Sharks 62-0 hammering against Toulon was the latest chapter in a dismal season that has seen Sale struggle to get going despite a new stadium and numerous big-name signings.

 

Mitchell arrived back at Sale three weeks ago but the Sharks fortunes are yet to turn around, with a crucial away fixture against London Wasps this weekend now looming.

 

"Unfortunately, this environment has become too much of an excuse and explanation- based environment," Mitchell told the Manchester Evening News.

 

"The place is full of excuses and, ultimately, the players are the only people who can turn this around.

 

"The mindset needs to change and the will to win needs to change.

 

"We were that far away from breaking Toulon, instead we chose to break, so it's about demonstrating how you can stay in contests regardless of the reputation of the opposition.

 

"It's more of an emotional thing - they've just lost the art of staying longer in the contest than the opposition and that's what we're trying to re-teach here.

 

"The boys fell short and gave up on each other when they almost had the opposition broken before half-time.

 

"Some individuals let us down around that 34/35 minute mark. If we had gone in it half-time just 3-0 or 7-0 down, the contest would have been a different story.

 

"The contrast between the two Toulon performances at home and then away was a concern and, clearly, some guys are still not reliable turning up week in, week out. It certainly revealed some of the character that I thought was here and concluded some thoughts I already had.

 

"But that's gone. I'm now focusing on getting a result this weekend and about making sure we get a very reliable tight group out there on Sunday."

 Good to see John Mitchell is still running down his players. At least at the Lions the players deserved it. It must be hard playing under him shitting yourself at halftime and then at the end of the game. If he is like this in the media one wonders what he is like in the change rooms. Does provide some entertainment value though

The guy is a Prick, don't know how he keeps getting coaching gigs because his record sucks. His militant "my way or the highway" is so outdated I think it's more a reflection of his over inflated ego. The biggest mistake the NZRU ever did was give the dickhead a crack at AB coach.

You tell those losers John. A great attitide can take a team a long way but excuses and more excuses is a recipe for failure. Get rid of the whiners and work with those wanting to win.

You did a great job at the Lions and that Currie Cup win and the improvements we have seen bear testimony to that. Unfortunately there were some loafers and pampered poodles who wanted the easy life and losing was not an issue to them.

Good luck John Sale are lucky to have you. Yo get these jobs because rugby men know what value you add.  Unlike ou pdv who has not been offered any coaching jobs  and never will be given an overseas post. 

what are the exact details int mitchel leaving the lions???
last i heard he was cleared from the lions, then he released a statement saying he wanted to continue being lions coach as he has unfinished business and now hes at the sharks??? o_O
to be a fly on that wall,,,,,
 

Sasue

Mirchell was cleared from any wrongdoing - but was not given back the post of coach - the Lions offered him another job with equal benefits - but would largely have cut him out of coaching the team itself.   The coaching job went to Ackerman.  

Mitchell then declared that he would rather be a coach and went off to England.   I think his agreement with the Lions was that he would coach Sale for three months till the end of their normal rugby season and then come back to the Lions.  May be wrong on the latter score though. 

Not so sure that his maain critics at the Lions would improve though.   Josh Strauss went off to Scotland and I have eard nothing of his performances there.  Jantjies will play for the Stormers next season - so we will have to wait a while to see what he produces.