Mitchell hasn't closed the book on Pretorius

[travelling_gerry]

Getty Images / Paul Kane ©





Western Force coach John Mitchell has not ruled out former Springbok playmaker Andre Pretorius returning for next year's Super rugby season.
And he still believes there is a chance the Force can get the prized signature of Queensland Reds star fly-half Quade Cooper.
Pretorius, who missed the 2010 Super season with a ripped hamstring, is due to have medical tests with the Sharks in Durban for their Currie Cup side this week.
"If he passes fit, gets the ability to play Currie Cup and demonstrates that he can maintain a lot of game time, we would consider him on our list," Mitchell said.
"At this stage there's every opportunity that Quade can still come here.
"He hasn't signed, hasn't let anyone know as yet, so we're still very interested in Quade."
Mitchell repeated his warning the club needs a top-flight playmaker if it is to succeed.
"This player group is deserving of a world-class fly-half," he said. "We clearly believe that we can contest finals and become the best team in this competition.
"We showed examples at the back end of this season that, if we had stayed healthy for the majority of the season, we could have achieved that goal."
Mitchell dismissed claims he was leaving the Force to join the struggling Lions next season, having already said earlier this month that he was considering a Currie Cup consultancy position with the Johannesburg club.
"They (the Lions) have asked for me," he said.
Mitchell, who spent two weeks coaching the Sharks' Currie Cup team last year, said he would fulfil his contract with the Force that would see him coach in Perth next year.
About 30 coaches from overseas and Australia have applied for the position but Mitchell again endorsed his assistant and Wallabies skills coach Richard Graham as his successor.
"I personally believe the head coach is in the building," he said. "That's my own personal opinion."
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...-on-pretorius/

[BDAVEY]

JM must have dael going with AP he backs him constantly

[PerthGirl]

I think what JM said is fair enough. If Pretorious can stay fit and play Currie Cup games there would be no reason not to consider him

[WF1964]

I'd be happy with Pretorius, he's been involved for a season already. Wouldn't that be an advantage over someone completely new?
And I'd like to see him play.
Surely he/we couldn't be that unlucky to have him injured/not 100% again.

[Sheikh]

JM rates Pretorius because he knows talent, especially when it's obvious. Hell, he's a 30-cap Springbook. Much as I love what Hill did for us this season, Pretorius is a step-change in class.

[GIGS20]

Pretoors will certainly have a quicker integration than anybody else, He's got a good head, a great tactical kicking game and will be under instructions to distribute cleverly. It would be fine as long as he can stay fit........that's a big if, but you could cater for that in the contract!

[MI5_Dog]

The important thing isn't who is the main 10, it's who is his backup.
We need depth in this key position.
We now have it at scrum-half and it's time to get it at 10 as well.

[Burgs]

Yeah agreed MI5, it is the exception to see a Flyhalf play 13-15 consecutive 80 minute S14 matches, so there will always need to be at least two ready to go.

[zimeric]

the problem with 9 & 10 is that anyone that plays it tends to think they have more worth in the team than anyone else and therefore if you have 2 or three of them vieing for the same spot inevitably you get the bench warmers wanting to move on..