Mitchell’s lips to stay zipped

[travelling_gerry]

3rd April 2009, 7:00 WST

No macho bravado talk. This time, Drew Mitchell is keeping his lip zipped and profile dipped ahead of tonight’s Super 14 showdown with the unpredictable Queensland Reds at Subiaco Oval.

Mitchell last year belittled the Reds as nothing more than “15 minutes of macho bravado after the kick-off” and the angry Queenslanders responded with 80 minutes of high-octane grunt to upset the Force 29-12 in Brisbane.

Mitchell and the Force have more respect for their cross-continent rivals this year, not as a result of the one-off eruption last April which turned out to be the highlight of the Reds’ season but because Phil Mooney’s men have developed an adventurous high-risk, highreward style of game that is piling up points, if not always wins.

Even Mitchell, something of an Artful Dodger himself when he runs from the back, is impressed.

“The way they play is exciting,” he said yesterday. “They stand in the tackle to offload and they chance their hand.

“On their night, they can beat anyone.”

Queensland have used the creativity of Quade Cooper and Berrick Barnes to slice gaps in defences, and the Force will mirror this playmaking pairing with Matt Giteau and James O’Connor at No. 10 and No. 12 respectively.

Force outside centre Ryan Cross made the Wallabies No. 13 jersey his own last year, but Reds counterpart Digby Ioane is the form back in Australia and will use tonight’s match to make the strongest possible statement to the national selectors.

He’s scored three tries in six matches this season, whereas Cross’ last five-pointer in Super 14 was that which earned the Force a 15-14 win over the Bulls almost a year ago.

Last weekend, while the Force were recuperating in their midseason bye, the Chiefs punished the Reds’ lapses to pile on six tries and 50 points. Going wide brings rewards for the Reds but any mistake leaves them horribly exposed.

Full-back Mitchell and wingers Scott Staniforth and Nick Cummins will no doubt get chances to counterattack and gain good ground.

What the Force must do to avoid their slender finals hopes being snapped is eliminate the sloppiness which has frequently ruined opportunity this season.
“The big thing for me is to be decisive,” Mitchell said.

“Your first instinct is normally the right one and if you feel the run is on, then you must go for it without hesitation.”

DAVE HUGHES

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ntentID=134003

[Garfiep]

Hmm – This time Drew is wanting to find a new employer and doesn’t want to antagonise potential future workmates!

[James]

He's going back to Queensland. No doubt about it. He sounds like a total suck-up the way he talks up the Queensland game plan.

Where'd you get the rest of it?
Sucked it out of a hose?
Sucked it out of a hose huh?
Yep sucked em out of a hose.

[sandgroperrugby]

A closed mouth gathers no feet at all!!

Never miss a good chance to shut the F@$# up!!!

[palitu]

YAY!!! he must read these forums... everybody has said for him to shut it this week!

[robyn <3]

He follows my post Palitu. That's what it is. He knows who he has to obey already

Dudes - he said those comments ages ago. I think he's shut his mouth because he's realised that maybe opening his big fat gob didn't do him a load of good last time? Reverse psychology maybe? Instead of talking them up talk them down, instead of loosing we win.

GO DREW! Show those stuck up QLDers you don't need to say crap about them to prove their bad. Just play rugby and WIN! And kick. Nicely. Pleeease?

Try time for Drew tonight! I can tell

[Burgs]

And credit where it's due, he actually had a decent match at #15 for once, probably his best in that position since coming over.
He is still a Wing though.