Mitchel to Lions

[Geeves]

Mitchell the former AB coach who was the inaugural Western Force coach is of to help (?) the Lions in Super 15 by being anointed as their coach.  I had high hopes for Mitchell taking over at the Force and instilling some hard hitting forwards and dynamics in the backline.  It never really happened though although their forwards were effective in year 1 after taking the best of the QLD pack apart from Croft their lack of a 5/8 and coordinated backline style.  Injuries in the Force has exposed the lack of quality players in Aus. The player revolt (Giteau lead) and the revolting players (Fava and the Quokka incident) never helped.  The force had some highs (more than QLD in the same time frame) but some of the lows were significant (the firepower failed sponsorship & the sums of money they sloshed about are still having repercussions in the game).  All in all he was a dead man walking this season and its no surprise that he has taken the initiative to go as no doubt the Lions have shown him some love that in WA had gone decidedly sour.

Unfortunately I can already see some of the headlines now: 1 down 1 to go

 

[BallBoy]

Yup - he's been here a while now and been coaching the Lions in this years' Curry Cup. The Lions failed to get a win in the just about all of the 1st half of the tournament but are surging now with 4 wins on the trot. He's brought a Roar back to Ellis park for sure - most matches had way less than 5,000 fans but with wins now over WP (Stormers) - putting 46 points past them and the Cheetahs,  the Stadium is looking pretty again in red.

Good luck to him, will take a lot to get the Lions into something formiddable but heard of some significant signings planned for next year, albeit most being players on their last legs i.e Butch james. Thing is that over the last 2 seasons guys like Jaque Fourie, Willem Alberts left - not because of coaches but due to the interference of Administration.

lastly, they have a flyhalf now called Elton Jantjes who's making quite a name for himself - you can see Carlos Spenser's influence all over him - think the King will stay another season as coach-player.

[BallBoy]

for those interested, Mitchel & his Lions now have 5 wins on the trot and find themselves in 4th spot (ahead of bulls) on the log.

[ruggerfan]

just a question. are your currie cup teams as different to super teams as our npc teams are?

[BallBoy]

no not really but in case opf the Lions - it is pretty much a new team whole bunch of youngsters in there. they play the Bulls this weekend - hope they can continue their winning spree

[ruggerfan]

cheers, good luck!

[BallBoy]

arghhhh, they lost it in final quarter with a sin binning and Bulls scoring 2 quick tries...

[BallBoy]

The Lions are back on track again with a Fantastic win against the table topping Sharks.
Some good comraderie by the coaches, both from NZ (John Plumtree for Sharks and John Mitchel for Lions) where they put up a trophee to be contested by the two of them based on who's team won. Plum did not bring the trophee to Ellis park, he was so sure his boys will not lose . Media climbed in to him at the post match - all in good jest.
Lions facing my boys (Cheetahs) this weekend - the team that wins will be assured of a semi spot. Losing team will have to hope on some weird outcome in the Bulls vs Western Province showdown.
 

[BallBoy]

So the Cheetahs were just a bit too strong at home for the Lions (43 - 37) - effectively ending their run for the playoffs. Unless the Griquas (feeder union for the Cheetahs in the Super 14/15) can pull a rabbit this weekend and beat the Bulls with all their Boks back. (Seen stranger things  )

[Teach]

Mitchell stabbed?  Any truth to this?

[DH]

Mitchell stabbed?  Any truth to this?

Looks like it is

Ex All Blacks coach John Mitchell stabbed

[BallBoy]

We try and try and try to change the perceptions & then you get the *&%$# with zero moral standing & who adds nothing to the country just F*&^% it all up again. good news is that he's fine and back at work this morning. Cops says they have quite a bit of evidence & expect arrests to come soon.

back to Rugby, this guy - Ivor Ichikowitz - is busy pumping some serious money into the Golden Lions Rugby Union in a visible effort to transform the union to its former glory www.ivorichikowitz.com/

[DH]

We try and try and try to change the perceptions & then you get the *&%$# with zero moral standing & who adds nothing to the country just F*&^% it all up again. good news is that he's fine and back at work this morning. Cops says they have quite a bit of evidence & expect arrests to come soon.

back to Rugby, this guy - Ivor Ichikowitz - is busy pumping some serious money into the Golden Lions Rugby Union in a visible effort to transform the union to its former glory www.ivorichikowitz.com/

Mitchell is showing a bit bravery! Not sure I'd be sticking around. It is a shame isn't it?

Had a look at the site. The guy looks like he must have some serious loot!

cheers
DH