Mitch mad about Tahs

Mitch mad about Tahs

19 Mar 2006

Western Farce coach and former All Blacks main man John Mitchell believes the Waratahs are the best Australian side in the Vodacom Super 14 and up there with the likes of the champion Crusaders.

Mitchell, whose Farce have played and lost to the Brumbies, Reds and Tahs, told the Sydney Morning Herald’s Greg Growden: “They are the best-looking Australian side at the moment. They play a similar style to the Crusaders, and the execution of their little things is becoming better. They’ve grabbed a lot more composure as a group, while the younger guys, such as Sam Norton-Knight and Alex Kanaar, have brought in some energy. They have also a real balance in their scrum, while Rocky Elsom’s demise has brought Wycliff Palu back, and Palu has been able to give them a lot of momentum at the gain-line.”

Mitchell was impressed by Palu and is tipping him for bigger things. Mat Rogers’s selection at flyhalf is also significant, according to Mitchell.

“Palu has seemed to have stripped down a bit and is operating for longer periods of time,” Mitchell said. “He’s working hard off the ball and, if he continues the way he is, he could seek higher honours. Mat is not only a good ad-lib footballer, he has also found a spot where he can really influence the game,” Mitchell said. “Depth is what this competition is all about. We’ve never had depth from day one, whereas if you look at the Waratahs over the past three years they have been able to build that depth, and it’s a pay-off, because whoever they put on is of the same quality.”

Mitchell’s mob hosts the Bulls in Perth this weekend — their first official battle with SA opposition. The Farce lost a pre-season warm-up to the Cheetahs 29-19 in Perth.


8 Comments

  • 1.BrumbyIV: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2006, 22:03 pm

    Mitch don’t get your team to aspire to years of self loving and underachievement

  • 2.NZMaori: Reply to this comment
    20 Mar 2006, 03:33 am

    Mitch is a good coach. He needs time with this team. Id say that with the players in the force even the worlds greatest coah would have a very very hard job on his plate.

    Quite clearly the Aussies dont have the depth for four teams. Its just another revenue collecting venture. Poor Mitch is stuck with a bad team but like i said give him time and they might improve

  • 3.bliksem: Reply to this comment
    20 Mar 2006, 07:22 am

    Its the Western Force,not the Western Farce idiot.This side is still going to beat The Stormers.

  • 4.green blood: Reply to this comment
    20 Mar 2006, 07:55 am

    Bliksem

    lol!! but if you are right, even as a south african i would not be happy for the stormers crowd. but would still enjoy the moment though – force / farce only win for the season. what would we then call the Stormers?

  • 5.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Mar 2006, 07:58 am

    Green Blood

    Force/Farce, how about Stormers/St.Mich?!?!?

  • 6.green blood: Reply to this comment
    20 Mar 2006, 08:40 am

    CSI agree.

  • 7.wls: Reply to this comment
    20 Mar 2006, 08:46 am

    I agree, i see this side beating the Cats and the Stormers and thats not even a joke.
    Gven time they will be very good, It also puts into perspective how good the Cheetahs are.

  • 8.Stan: Reply to this comment
    21 Mar 2006, 10:14 am

    Well, the Bulls has beaten this team and has beaten the crusaders convincingly last year….

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