Mitchell in Stormers talks

John Mitchell is set to salvage the Stormers from an embarrassing situation following Eddie Jones' hasty departure.

John Mitchell is set to salvage the Stormers from an embarrassing situation following Eddie Jones' hasty departure.

Published Nov 25, 2015

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New Zealander John Mitchell was in the city on Tuesday to meet Western Province rugby officials, the strongest indication yet that he will soon be named as the new Stormers coach.

The Cape Argus understands that Mitchell was here to discuss details of what is expected to be a four-year deal with the Cape’s Super Rugby franchise.

The former All Blacks, Western Force and Golden Lions coach turned down the Stormers job in June when he was sought out by WP director of rugby Gert Smal; Mitchell later stated that Smal’s failure to table a long-term offer had been the deal-breaker.

“At the time, it was only a two-year appointment, which didn’t really turn my head,” Mitchell said last week. “Four years is important, but more than the duration, it also has to be right. It’s not a place where you want to be tolerated, you want to be loved and enjoyed.”

The Stormers post suddenly became vacant last week when former Wallabies and Japan coach Eddie Jones was lured to the England hot seat by an offer that WP president Thelo Wakefield described as “impossible for any coach to turn down”.

Jones had been unveiled as the Stormers coach in September, on a three-year deal with a possible one-year extension, immediately after famously guiding Japan to a historic World Cup victory against the Springboks.

Japan’s recent success appears to have come at the Stormers’ expense as England CEO Ian Ritchie is believed to have doubled Jones’ salary to prise him away from Cape Town one week after he was introduced to the Newlands faithful.

Mitchell has quickly emerged as the favourite to salvage the Stormers from an embarrassing situation as he is arguably the only available candidate who meets the prerequisites laid out by Smal – applicants must have international coaching experience, have coached at Super Rugby level for more than five years, have a proven attacking mindset and be familiar with the unique challenges of coaching in South Africa.

Mitchell served as a forwards coach under Clive Woodward, the former England coach, and headed up the All Blacks between 2001 and 2003. Thereafter he blazed a Super Rugby trail in Perth as the inaugural coach of the Force (2006-2010) before moving to Ellis Park between 2010 and 2012, rescuing the Lions from the ignominy of a winless season under Dick Muir. The Lions won the 2011 Currie Cup title in Mitchell’s second season at the helm, and many attribute that team’s subsequent progression on attack to the groundwork laid by the Kiwi tactician.

He also implemented the expansive rugby that showcased the skills of players Matt Giteau and James O’Connor at the Force.

Combined, the Force and Lions won 29 of 94 matches under Mitchell for a 31 percent win record, but the 51-year-old noted: “The Stormers are in a completely different starting position for me than was the case at the Force and the Lions; there’s lots of talent and a wonderful diversity there.”

The Stormers host the Bulls at Newlands on February 27 to begin their 2016 Super Rugby campaign. - Cape Argus

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