Western Force Rejects Claims Against Mitchell
RugbyWA and the Emirates Western Force are outraged at a report which appeared in a Sydney newspaper today, suggesting Emirates Western Force head coach John Mitchell could undermine Australia’s Rugby World Cup campaign.
RugbyWA chairman Geoff Stooke stated that the report could not have been further from the truth, and that John Mitchell was fully committed to Australian rugby as well as the Emirates Western Force.
“Any suggestion that he would do anything to undermine Australia’s World Cup efforts is wrong and baseless,” Stooke said.
“Since his appointment, Mitchell has demonstrated outstanding professionalism, and to question his integrity is particularly offensive.”
The report suggested that if Mitchell did not play Matt Giteau at scrumhalf, rather than his Test position of inside centre, he would not be acting in the national interest.
It also included the fanciful suggestion that this was payback for the All Blacks losing the 2003 World Cup semi-final to Australia.
Stooke said Giteau was recruited to fill the 12 position for the Emirates Western Force, the position in which he is the incumbent in the Wallaby team.
“And on this basis, it would seem appropriate for him to play in this position in the Super 14 competition. In addition, the incumbent Wallaby scrumhalf is the Wallaby captain, George Gregan,” he said.
“Importantly, it should also be noted that Giteau’s preferred position is number 12 and he is making every effort to continue in this position in the Wallaby line-up.”
The report was also critical of Mitchell’s Kiwi heritage, and suggested it was a mistake to employ a New Zealander as coach of an Australian provincial team.
“Mitchell’s Kiwi heritage is not a concern for us and we are surprised the issue has been raised, particularly given that many of our current Wallabies have Kiwi and Islander roots. No one questions their commitment to the Wallabies and nor should Mitchell’s be in question because of his heritage,” Stooke said.
Stooke emphasized that Mitchell had the full support of the Board and Management of RugbyWA and the Emirates Western Force, both in his role as head coach and in supporting the efforts of Australian rugby.
Giteau denied half a chance
I think this may be the article:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...563961,00.html
By Peter Jenkins
12oct06
FORMER New Zealand coach John Mitchell is the New Zealander who could undermine Australia's World Cup campaign if he refuses to play Matt Giteau at halfback in next year's Super 14.
That was the concern raised last night by 1991 Rugby World Cup winners David Campese and Tony Daly after Mitchell ruled out shifting Giteau from inside centre to No.9 for Western Force.
The Wallabies will trial Giteau at halfback on the European tour next month, and they may even launch the experiment in the opening Test against Wales.
But Mitchell said Australia's highest-paid player will roam the midfield for his province.
"We will certainly be playing him at No.12 so I guess that's going to create a difficulty if there is a strategy at Wallaby level," Mitchell said last month when the Giteau-for-halfback push took off:
Campese said Australian rugby could be "bitten on the bum" having allowed a foreign coach to head up an Australian province.
"He doesn't care what others say and he's probably not that concerned about whether the Wallabies win the World Cup," the wing legend said.
"He's only interested in success at the Force. He's got a job to do there and that's what counts to him.
"That's fair enough, too. But we could end up paying the price when the World Cup rolls around."
Daly, the former long-serving Australia prop, added: "He's a New Zealander and he'll do what he wants. I can understand that but it might not help the Wallabies.
"Then again, why would he want to do that? It was Australia that knocked his All Blacks out of the World Cup in 2003 and it cost him his job."
Former Wallabies captain Nick Farr-Jones described Mitchell's stance as "strange".
"He's in our country, coaching one of our provincial teams. He should be sympathetic to the national cause.
"I also realise he's got his job and his own team to look after.
"I think portraying him as a Kiwi trying to inhibit Australia winning the World Cup is pushing the barrow too far."
Mitchell dismissed the criticism last night and received support on two fronts - from former All Blacks five-eighth Grant Fox and a precedent of eight years ago.
Eddie Jones was coaching the Brumbies in 1998 when he refused a request from Australia coach Rod Macqueen to play Stephen Larkham at five-eighth in that year's Super 12.
The Wallabies were forced to select Larkham sight unseen for the season's opening Test against England.
"We are acting in the national interest by helping develop Matt Henjak and Chris O'Young as halfbacks (at the Force)," said Mitchell.
"If the Wallabies see Matt Giteau as one of the country's top two halfback next year they have (three) domestic Tests, the Tri-Nations and World Cup pool matches to play him there."
Fox said Mitchell was the ultimate professional coach.
"No way could Mitch ever be seen as a Kiwi undermining Australia," he said.
"He sees himself in the Australian rugby set-up now. When I had lunch with him recently he was talking about the Aussies and referring to 'we'. I had to remind him where he comes from.
"But at the end of the day this is about the balance of his squad for next season. He's picked his players and allocated positions.
"He will also be judged on how his team performs in Super 14, not on how many players he develops for the Wallabies."
In Australia, Super 14 coaches are appointed by the franchises who have far more autonomy than in New Zealand.
Under the Kiwi system, Super 14 coaches are contracted to the NZ Rugby Union.
If All Blacks coach Graham Henry wants a player trialled in a new position, his request is usually granted.