Mitchell forces issue with NSW

[travelling_gerry]

Mitchell forces issue with NSW

Rupert Guinness | April 11, 2008


Western Force coach John Mitchell has stirred the embers of suspicion and unease between his side and the Waratahs by saying the eastern states still hope the three-year-old Perth franchise fails.

"That will always be the case. The eastern states will look to climb on any of our weaknesses. And that is something we will have to live with for the entire history of the club," he said before tomorrow night's round-nine Super 14 clash between the sides in Perth.

But Mitchell stressed the "West versus East" divide was not a source of motivation for his team.
"We are above that," he said.

The rivalry between the two sides was already fierce enough. The Force are fifth on the table; NSW sixth, a point behind, with the winners to claim bragging rights as Australia's top team as both battle to make the semi-finals. The Force are still to have the bye, so tomorrow night looms as a turning point for both teams.

And there will be the added pressure of contesting for Wallabies selection, with several tantalising match-ups for new coach Robbie Deans to consider.

Australian rugby has been starved of drive and verve in recent years, but both sides have shown they can play well, giving rise to hopes last year's dour 16-16 draw in Sydney will be put in the shade.

Mitchell's sentiments are not without justification. Some in NSW still rankle at how the Force aggressively recruited players in 2005 when the Australian Rugby Union anointed WA Rugby as the home of the fourth Australian Super 14 side.

Then, as the Force struggled in their first year before rising to be competitive last season, the murmurs of protest gained strength when the "province" was fined $150,000 by the ARU for breaching player recruitment protocols and later came under fire for several off-field incidents.

The unacceptable treatment of quokkas during an off-season bonding camp on Rottnest Island resulted in fines for back-rowers Scott Fava and Richard Brown. Halfback Matt Henjak was sacked for hitting and breaking the jaw of teammate Haig Sare, who makes his comeback on the bench tomorrow night.

And with the Force the pacesetters among the Australian sides this year, it would hardly be surprising if there was ill-feeling running through the veins in the build-up to tomorrow night.

But Mitchell knows about feeling and how it can affect the mind and a game if not harnessed well. He has had to control it since 2003, when he and his assistant Deans were sacked as All Blacks coaches following New Zealand's upset loss to Australia in the World Cup semi-final in Sydney.


Of tomorrow's clash, Mitchell said: "We are excited. This is our first Australian contest [this year]. We have had to wait this long to play an Australian team.

"The boys, through all four states, know a lot about each other. So you have to try and control the emotion, make sure people are calm, as opposed getting over the top."

And of the emotion of losing the All Blacks' job?

"It is far from my mind because it just brings negative energy," he said. "It is a kind of a poison, really. You never forget. But, in some ways, if you never forget you understand the territory even more and respect the opportunity and privilege you are given. Your just try to give your best."

Mitchell empathises with Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie who was told last week, days before NSW beat the Blues, that his contract would not be renewed after this year. Afterwards, McKenzie received messages of support from Mitchell and fellow coaches Laurie Fisher (Brumbies) and Phil Mooney (Reds).

"You never gain unanimous support as a coach," Mitchell said. "As a coach you have your family support and your close friends, but there is no [coaches'] association or any right of reprieve for coaches.

"Some coaches haven't experienced sackings. You never like to go through it. "But when someone else does go through it, I think it is important to show support to them."

But that won't stop Mitchell trying to bring McKenzie down tomorrow night.



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[Jehna]

I'm really getting tired of the media's need to bring up every possible bad thing in the Force's history...

[Swee_82]

I think it's safe to say 20 years from now, stories about the Force will still start something along the lines of "The upstart WA franchise, still reeling from the 'quokka shocker' incident..."

[jargan83]

They can't dip into the excuses barrel till Sunday so they need to re-use old bullshit instead of new bullshit