Thrashing a good experience: Mitchell

TIM CLARKE

January 26, 2010 - 10:48AM
Unbowed Western Force coach John Mitchell insists the faults which saw his young side smashed in their first pre-season clash can be easily ironed out as he prepares for the Force's second clash in South Africa.


After a youthful Force were taught a 54-12 win by the Stormers over the weekend, Mitchell's men will face off against the Sharks at Newlands on Tuesday hoping for a better result.


"In the first quarter we were undone by our receiving of kicks and in the second quarter we were undone by general play and lineout mauling, which are aspects we can fix," Mitchell said


"Normally, at this time of the year we play against an academy side in Perth, and we wanted our younger players to be under no illusion of what Super 14 takes.
"The reality is that they have had a great learning experience."


With the Force awaiting the outcome of the judicial hearing over Matt Dunning's sending off in the first pre-season outing, Mitchell was preparing to field a more formidable outfit in the second match of the tour
New Sharks skipper John Smits said while the games were a warm-up, they were also an important stepping stone into the new season.


"With these warm-up games it is an opportunity to see how much you have benefited from the hard work that has been put in," Smit told iafrica.com.
"You get to try a few combinations," he said.


"We've obviously got a lot of very exciting youngsters that have come through our very successful Under-19 and Under-21 side - guys that will definitely make an impact on Sharks rugby in the next year or two.


"It is going to be a great opportunity to see how these guys fit into a seasoned Sharks Super 14 squad.


"It is a tough competition, it is one where you are going to have good weeks and bad weeks.


"You just have to make sure you have more good weeks than bad weeks and you will find yourself in a semifinal."


http://www.watoday.com.au/rugby-unio...0125-mudq.html