Mitchell enthuses about 'no-nonsense' Hill

Mitchell enthuses about 'no-nonsense' Hill

ormer All Backs and Waikato Chiefs playmaker David Hill will bring a no-nonsense approach to the Western Force backline, head coach John Mitchell says.

Mitchell, who first coached Hill at the Chiefs 10 years ago and then went on to call him up for the All Blacks, said he was a good organiser who ran a backline well.

Hill, 31, who is on a one-year contract from Japanese club Toshiba, has just a handful of training sessions with his new club before next Sunday's Super 14 clash with the Reds in Brisbane.

But Mitchell said: "I guess it's a blessing for us to be in bye week, where we've got five sessions before we go in against the Reds.

"It's pretty challenging coming into this situation but he's very experienced. It's good to have his experience within the group.

"He knows what he's doing, he knows what he wants. There's no bulls..t with him.

"He knows what we want to get out of him, how we want to refine our game and want we want from (the No) 10."

Hill's arrival will free teenager James O'Connor from the responsibility that goes with the No 10 jumper.

"To have an experienced footballer to direct the ship in both attack and out of the back 50 (metres) is going to give the side a lot of confidence and a lot of direction," Mitchell said.

Meanwhile Mitchell acknowledged that the Force are interested in former National Rugby League star Mark Gasnier.

It was revealed by The West Australian yesterday that the club are after the signature of the Test and State of Origin centre currently playing for Paris glamour club Stade Francais in the French Top 14 union competition.

"We'll continue to look at Mark," Mitchell said.

"We have a committee that deals with retention and acquisition and clearly we have a process where we have our eye on the ball in that situation.

"The group will continue to keep an eye on Mark and others.

"His transition to rugby has been very good. Mark's an exceptional player but that's next season."
The Australian Rugby Union reportedly tabled an offer to Gasnier whose two year contract with Stade runs out in May, after the former St George-Illawarra Dragon expressed interest in playing in the 2011 World Cup.