FORMER All Black captain and forward John Mitchell, who joined the Ireland rugby management team as assistant to coach Murray Kidd this week in Atlanta, is hoping to pursue his coaching career on a permanent basis in Ireland.
His agreement with the IRFU runs to the end of March and, in addition to his responsibilities as coach and technical adviser to the Irish forwards, he will work in the Limerick area as an IRFU game development officer.
Mitchell, who works for a management consultancy firm in Hamilton in New Zealand, has received leave of absence from his employers. "I am very grateful for that and this opportunity to be involved with the Ireland team. I would like to make my stay in Ireland longs term," he said.
"That obviously depends on several factors not least the success this season of the Ireland side. I am not making any presumptions, it would be wrong of me to do so, but that is my long term goal."
What prompted Mitchell, a man who captained the All Blacks three times during their tour of England and Scotland in 1993 and who led his provincial side Waikakto to unprecedented success domestically, to get involved with the Ireland team?
"Well I thoroughly enjoy rugby coaching, I coach my club side Fraser Technical College at home and now, in the new order that obtains in rugby, the opportunity is there for a career in this area of the game on a full time basis. When I got the invitation to become involved with the Irish team and to work in the Limerick area, I immediately accepted with enthusiasm. I see it as a great opportunity to work with people I know and respect and to work in a country where I played for a season with Garryowen. It was one of the most enjoyable periods of my whole career. I went back to New Zealand after the 1990-91 season with Garryowen in the All Ireland League because I wanted to become an All Black. Fortunately I achieved that ambition. Now my sights are set on a different goal."
When he was with Garryowen, Kidd was coaching co-ordinntor at the club and Ireland manager Pat Whelan was also involved in coaching the side. "There is no doubt that the fact that Murray and Pat were Ireland coach and manager were primary factors in my decision to return to Ireland," said Mitchell. "I know them, their attitudes and their ambition. My experience with Garryowen gave me a good perspective on Irish rugby and I liked a lot of what I saw.
"I have been very impressed, too, with what I have seen during this week in Atlanta. There is great talent in the Irish squad, tremendous enthusiasm, a considerable level of awareness and the fitness level has greatly impressed me. What I liked, too, was when Murray and myself discussed certain areas of the game and tactics so many of the players were ready to make a contribution. They were thinking about things and that is always beneficial. I knew some of the players from my time in Ireland and that also helped. The reception I have got from the players on every level offers me nothing but encouragement and incentive."
Kidd is especially enthusiastic about working with Mitchell. "Pat Whelan and myself had him at Garryowen and saw at first hand his influence. We feel he can make a major contribution," said Kidd. "He understands exactly the type of game we want to play.
So is the Irish approach now going to be very much modelled on the New Zealand game? "It is going to be a mixture, I hope, of the best elements of the Irish and New Zealand approach. There are certain attributes and characteristics in the Irish game that are especially Irish and must always remain. I refer to the passion, to the commitment and the enthusiasm. Every player who has played against Ireland talks about them, said Kidd. Mitchell readily nodded assent to those sentiments. "Irish set-piece play, especially the scrum, has always been strong. The drive and the maul are others elements. Where, on occasions, the Irish have failed to capitalise on them is that the best use has not always been made of possession," he added.
Kidd and Mitchell now aim to add another dimension to the Irish approach in the areas of continuity, ball retention and support play. "That is our aim or put another way a mixture of the best elements of Irish and New Zealand rugby," said Kidd.
Is the capacity within the squad to do that? "From what I have seen and the approach of the players, I am sure it is," said Kidd. "I am making no promises, these are early days, but the signs are very encouraging."
Kidd and Mitchell now aim to try and bring Irish international rugby up to a level that will enable Ireland to match the best and beat many. Mitchell knows and fully expects that he, like the players and team, will be judged by results. The stakes are high for all concerned. "My aspiration is to make coaching my career. I would like to think that it will be in Ireland and that I can make a really worthwhile contribution," said Mitchell. And of course there is the Limerick factor and Mitchell has experienced that at first hand. "I am really looking forward to going back there," he said, "and hoping for a protracted stay."
