ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Wednesday Nov 11, 2020

Coach will continue to allow his players to smash him after viral video proved a hit

England defence coach John Mitchell will continue dressing up as the opposition as Georgia enter the sights of Eddie Jones’ Six Nations champions.

ADVERTISEMENT

As part of an indoor training session held during the build-up to the title-clinching win in Rome 10 days ago, behind-the-scenes footage (below) shows Mitchell putting on an Italy jersey and scrum cap before charging towards a group of his forwards.

The former New Zealand boss was smashed backwards to the sounds of laughter from the watching players but while comical, the moment also conveyed a crucial idea.

“The thing these days is to get a message across and you can do it in so many different ways,” Mitchell said ahead of Saturday’s Autumn Nations Cup opener against Georgia.

“It’s important to create a bit of theatre around the message and to give yourself a chance as a coaching group for it to land and create a bit of fun around the message. It’s about putting it in context. Prior to me dressing up, there were questions around how Italy carried and what sort of running lines do they run, etc. And obviously there was the funny bit at the end.

“These days you are very conscious of presenting to this generation in many different mediums – that just happens to be one medium that you can use.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Among the players to drive Mitchell backwards and on to the floor was Bath tighthead prop Will Stuart.

“It was a nice little touch – I was actually in that defensive line and didn’t realise that the two people outside me were going to smoke him too, which was the best part about it!” Stuart said.

“It was good commitment. It’s the first time here that I have experienced that. You do it at club level a bit, someone will wear a scrum cap and be the opposition’s talisman.”

Mitchell’s innovation came in the week Jones floated the idea of operating with nine forwards against Georgia, whose greatest strength lies in a snarling pack that came to blows with England during a training session in Oxford in February last year.

ADVERTISEMENT

The warring packs had to be separated by coaching and backroom staff, but the Eastern Europeans had already done enough to leave a lasting impression.

Rather than fielding flanker Ben Earl in the backs – he is viewed by Jones as having the skills to play centre – it is wing Ollie Thorley who is being trialled as a reinforcement up front.

“Ollie has been jumping around there in the line-outs with a smile seeking information,” Mitchell said. “What’s also great about Ollie is that he is very coachable and the guys are helping him out as well.

“The set-piece would be the biggest challenge for the back, not so much the scrum but probably the line-out. Then the attention to ruck attack and ruck defence is more common.

“We have already seen people swap in and out in matches and we have had some six-two splits where a back-rower is selected based on the ability to either use him in the forwards or the backs. In terms of starting selection, I am sure that time will come.”

Video Spacer

Related Articles

  • 34 WEEKS AGO

    Crazy scenes as player deliberately kicks...

  • 35 WEEKS AGO

    Jokester has field day with Chris Latham's...

  • 36 WEEKS AGO

    Eddie Jones goes off on fan in shocking new...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    Heart Breaking Six Nations Ending For Italy As Scotland Score Long Range Try

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Montpellier Number Eight Zach Mercer Outlandish Attacking Skill

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Damian Penaud Pulls Off a "van der Merwe" in Outrageous French Try

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Ireland Winger James Lowe With World Class Finish In Titanic Battle With France

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Sonny-Bill Williams Gives Irish U20 Star A Shoutout For Classy Offload

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Refereeing Legend Nigel Owens Breaks Down Freddie Steward Incident

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    England and Ireland fans express disappointment in grand slam refereeing decisions

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    England Fullback Shown Red For Collision With Opposite Number

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Springbok Flyhalf Back With A Bang In Huge Development For World Champions

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Shocking Scenes As Rugby Players Attacked Following Rivalry Clash In South Africa

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Ardie Savea Moment Of Magic In Super Rugby Aotearoa

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    'Armchair athletes' berate Arundell's seriously impressive bench press

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Worcester Warriors - The End

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Sevens magic as 'headed' try brings stadium to its feet

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Almost 35,000 have now signed petition to reverse new grassroots tackle laws

View All

Funnies

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Whole Irish squad turn up to teammates parents house for drinking session

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Jonathan Sexton Fantastic Comeback Caught On Ref Mic

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Hilarious Footage Of English Players Post Leg Day Workout

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Mack Hansen leaves viewers in stitches with hilarious post-match interview mistake

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    A Look Back At Rugby’s Greatest Ever Film

View All

Amateur

  • 10 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 11 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 34 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 34 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 34 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Youth and experience combine in an effort to repeat Six Nations upset

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Wales international releases emotional statement after being offered contract that isn’t enough to feed family

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Ardie Savea causes outrage with ‘throat slitting’ gesture

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Smith, Marchant and Murley released from England camp to take part in 'Big Game 14'

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Mack Hansen leaves viewers in stitches with hilarious post-match interview mistake

View All