John Mitchell to the Lions

[p.Tah]

Apparently John Mitchell has been suspended by the Lions

The Golden Lions Rugby Union have suspended their head coach John Mitchell.

This follows the revelation that a group of players have presented a 'list of grievances' to GLRU President Kevin de Klerk as a result of the manner in which Mitchell treats players...

"The nature of the [players'] complaints is so serious that we have suspended him [Mitchell], pending further investigation," De Klerk said.

http://www.rugby365.com/article/48194-lions-suspend-their-coach

 

[qwerty51]

That's pretty interesting, "so serious" couldn't just be players and coach not seeing eye to eye?

 

[redstragic]

"The players had discarded Mitchell's game plan and did what they felt was best, producing their best performance of the season and only their second win of 2012."

No point in him being there if he players have stopped listening to him. Is it an ego thing? I alway think he comes across well in interviews.

 

[Athilnaur]

Where there's smoke.

Hope Force are close to finalising their coach. In the hands of a good coach that Lions team will do a lot better and it sounds like they're looking.

 

[Mank]

Wow. Frankly I always wrote off the Kiwis grumbling about Mitchell during his time, but maybe there is something to it?

 

[James Buchanan]

Where there's smoke.

Hope Force are close to finalising their coach. In the hands of a good coach that Lions team will do a lot better and it sounds like they're looking.

If they need one for next season.

 

[Dan54]

Has happened too many times now for it to be just players packing sads. Tana Umaga, said in his book that Mitchell along with Deans were very unpopular with players and had no ability to comminicate. Seems it maybe better if he finds other work.

 

[Bullrush]

My cousin was coached by Mitchell at Waikato in he age groups and saidhe was pretty good but that was quite a while ago. Ever since Cullen and Umaga said they didn't like playing for Mitchell (and Deans as well) haven't thought much of them as coaches.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

There is a few here in Gaggerland who similarly do not think much of Mitchell and Deans.

 

[Blue]

Has happened too many times now for it to be just players packing sads. Tana Umaga, said in his book that Mitchell along with Deans were very unpopular with players and had no ability to comminicate. Seems it maybe better if he finds other work.

Same in Anton Oliver's book.

 

[Bowside]

There is a few here in Gaggerland who similarly do not think much of Mitchell and Deans.

Really?

You wouldn't know it!

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Who is in charge at the Lions now?

Didn't watch the game but looking at the results it would seem that the players have responded rather well, if not French-style.

 

[Brumby Jack]

Who is in charge at the Lions now?

Johan Ackerman

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Hello Paarl Bok

The use of imported coaches here in Aust has not been seen as an unbridled success by many pundits, although the jury is probably still out on your Jake White and impact at the Brumbies.

Deans and Mitchell have certainly polarised opinion here and I think it is fair to say their presence and the debate surrounding them has been a big distraction from other issues with Heavensgame here in the land of Oz.

I think JM is the first experiment at head coach level in Safferland, although you have had our Eddie Jones as an assistant coach/consultant in the past. The Darkness have experimented our David Nuci at the Blues a year or two back. They seem to have enough depth in their coaching ranks to go it alone.

What is the overall Saffer in the street view on foreign coaches?

I would imagine that the view would most likely be coloured somewhat by the recent issues in the Lions Den.

 

[Brisbok]

JM is by no means the first foreign coach to coach a South African team. We had Laurie Mains who coached the Cats (with some success) in the early 2000's. Then we have also had John Plumtree coaching for a number of years with the Sharks in Durban, firstly as an assistant and then as head coach.

While I haven't lived in SA for some time, I do read a lot of the rugby media from over there. I would say that, in general, the average rugby fan over there is not really opposed to the involvement of foreign coaches - so long as it is the right coach!

Many SA rugby fans think highly of Eddie Jones after his involvement with the Boks in the 2007 RWC. John Mitchell was a hero last year in Johannesburg after he won the Currie Cup with the Lions. In fact, I think up until this latest incident, I think he was still very highly thought of by the majority of fans. Not much of the blame for the Lions results this year had been directed at the coaching team, but rather at their significant injury list and the severe lack of depth that was exposed because of it.

Plumtree was also fairly popular initially in his coaching involvement with the Sharks. This has started to fade in the last couple of years as he has struggled to keep improving the team after his initial success.

But in general, I think SA rugby fans are quite open to the idea of foreign coaches, if they feel these coaches are adding value. I'm not sure if the same would hold true for a foreign coach to coach the Springboks, but certainly at Super Rugby level there doesn't seem to be much objection.

 

[I like to watch]

Tim Lane also did a three year stint with the Cats IIRC

 

[mudskipper]

John Mitchell is a repeat offender with a volatile temperament… just found out again, he got away with being involved in the shadow firepower deals at the force, cashed out and then bolted…