News

Force coach visits Sharks

August 06 2009

Former All Black and current Western Force coach John Mitchell has spent the last week exchanging ideas with the Sharks in Durban.

An old friend of Sharks caoch John Plumtree, Mitchell headed to South Africa hoping to spend some time in the stands watching the Tri-Nations but ended up ended up being roped in to provide his input at his Super 14 rivals.

"He came out for the Test match and spent time with us, he's a good mate of Plums [John Plumtree]," Sharks assistant coach Grant Bashford explained to the Sharks website.

"He also did a jersey presentation for the Cheetahs game which was excellent. On Saturday afternoon after the Test, I asked what he was doing, because with John Plumtree away this week, I couldn't think of anyone better to stick around. He's been fantastic, he's fitted in and has the respect of the players.

"He's here simply on a volunteer basis but said he could only do without rugby for so long and was quite happy to delay his return an extra week. With Plum away, it's a great opportunity for him to mentor some of our young guys, particularly some of the forwards, and he really adds something in every department."

Mitchell explained he long personal and working relationship with Plumtree and how is was able to learn as much as he taught.

"Interestingly enough, John and I were both born in the same little town in South Taranaki," said Mitchell.

"We didn't know each other as kids but played provincial rugby against each other in the late 80s, caught up at the after-parties, then reconnected in the UK when he was at Swansea and I was at Sale and we've been in regular contact ever since. Initially when he returned from Wales, I asked him to be my analyst at the All Blacks - he did a really good job - but was always going to be a head coach and fortunately enough he was able to pick up the Wellington Lions job."

As opposing coaches, friendships will be tested when the teams play each other, and there is always going to be a winner and a loser, but Mitchell admits that once the game is over, the friendship is back.

"He's pretty good, he's up 3-1 at the moment," he laughed.

"The last time we played here, two years ago, The Sharks won but he came into the changeroom with a couple of cans after the game and I was still carrying the disappointment of the loss, but it was in good spirit because we're both very competitive.

"We have a very good relationship and it's a really good sign of elite coaches that we have the ability to share information. I think in life, if you want to get something you have to give something and I guess we're constantly looking to evolve our programmes, so it's really fortunate that we have that kind of relationship."

Having coached in New Zealand, Australia and now spent time with South African players, he is pretty uniquely qualified to discuss the differences in the players of these three countries, as well as the playing and coaching style.

"I've been really fortunate and every country has subtle differences," he explained.

"Springbok rugby can be very blunt and very direct which is a huge strength, whereas an Australian side has an ability to find a way through manipulating and being very clever in terms of phase and plays. A New Zealand side tries, I guess, tries to be blunt as well as play with phase."

"It was fascinating seeing the Springboks squeeze the life out of the All Blacks. They have some issues in terms of leadership and experience at the moment and that was exposed.

"It's been good to be around the guys, offer some tips and advice and likewise learn from them and ultimately it's about growing the player, this is a great environment, conducive to growth and also a fun environment to be in.

And what of his own side, the Western Force? "We've been growing over the last few years, remember, we're only 5 years old, The Sharks are well over 100, but we're in good shape. We have 10 players in the Wallaby squad, six in rehab and the rest playing in the Sydney club competition which is equivalent to Currie Cup, a lot of Test and Super 14 players, so they are getting quality rugby under their belts."

The Force suffered a huge loss with the news that Matt Giteau would be leaving the club and taking up with the Brumbies for the 2010 season, but Mitchell believes they are still in great shape.

"While we have lost Matt's talent, collectively we'll be a tougher group. We've brought in some new players, strengthened our front row, we have an international back row, we've brought in Andre Pretorius and our backline pretty much remains the same, we still have the young up-and-coming James O'Connor.

"In the five years I've been involved at the club, I think experience and depth-wise throughout the player group, this is probably the best we've had."

With thanks to the Sharks