Mitch bounces Schalk
27 Aug 2007
John Mitchell has seized on Schalk Burger’s supposed breakdown transgressions as being greater than Richie McCaw’s.
Mitchell, the former All Blacks coach, rejected the constant bagging of McCaw at the breakdown and said the player who should be getting the most attention is Bok flanker Burger.
“There are people out there who are creating a focus on him,” Mitchell told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. “But Burger is one person you want to focus on. He doesn’t keep his feet well. He plays right on the line. But I don’t think he is as accurate as Richie in that area.
“(McCaw) is very long in the upper body, so his greatest asset is that he keeps his feet as long as he can.
“While you are a fetcher of ball, if you keep your feet, you are going to get more favourable decisions than ones that go against you.
“When he is told to release, or given a chance and he has created the slow ball, I guess half of his body doesn’t roll away. That’s the thing most opposition coaches and opponents get annoyed with.”
Mitchell said McCaw had been penalised four times in succession by English referee Chris White in the 2003 World Cup semifinal defeat to Australia, adding this would only add to the All Blacks captain’s motivation this time around.
Mitchell also said those players who were there in 2003 won’t underestimate the occasion as they did in Australia.
“(After) the experience a lot of those guys had in 2003, they will respect the occasion so much more,” said Mitchell, who also felt the All Blacks would benefit from their reconditioning programme.
721 Comments
Pages: « 1 … 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 [15] Show All
28 Aug 2007, 06:45 am
Dominee
Is it that mental picture that made you stutter & post twice ?
28 Aug 2007, 07:10 am
Oh ****! Princess.Must have double clicked when I tried to close the screen as I had an unwanted visitor in my office.You might be able to help me here darling Princess…McCraw is that something that’s stuck in the throat and you can’t spit it out? I have something sticking in my MCraw!
28 Aug 2007, 07:10 am
Must say you really do seem to get the most mature responses from the rugby boys round here
28 Aug 2007, 07:20 am
Skoppie ou pel.Lanklaas jou op die thread gesien.Quite interesting to note the times of the blogs. Pity we miss folk like Timbo,Fakir and Kerneels because of the time zone. Still reckon we should hold a Keo bloggers party somewhere and watch the WC.Can we get SAB to sponsor
28 Aug 2007, 07:23 am
More Skoppie
28 Aug 2007, 07:25 am
So dominee is jy aka manlybok dan?
28 Aug 2007, 07:26 am
Domniee
I think that “thing” stuck in yr throat is humility
28 Aug 2007, 07:28 am
Hiya Princess girl, must be the deftness of your stiletto wielding prowess gets such maturity out of your admirers here.
28 Aug 2007, 07:30 am
Oh well, can’t hang around these parts now,
Good to see you anyhow.
So long
28 Aug 2007, 07:30 am
What is happening in sunny RSA Skop ?
28 Aug 2007, 07:31 am
Skop
You know patience is a virture.
28 Aug 2007, 07:36 am
Here we go Boys, the official response from the Gert, I must say that I am actually amazed that the man has a voice never mind an opinion:
Assistant Springbok coach Gert Smal has put former All Black coach John Mitchell in his place after the New Zealander’s comments about Schalk Burger’s alleged illegal tactics.
Mitchell said the referees in this year’s World Cup tournament should watch the Springbok flank rather than New Zealand captain Richie McCaw.
Small, himself a former Springbok loose forward, hit back on Monday, saying Mitchell’s comments were a calculated effort to draw the attention away from McCaw.
“They (the New Zealanders) know any team playing against Schalk have problems. He makes life very difficult for the opposition,” Smal said.
“McCaw gets away with murder. He seldom binds in the scrum. It’s nonsense to say he does not play illegally as much as Schalk does.”
Mitchell, who coached the All Blacks for the 2003 World Cup tournament, is now coach of the Australian Western Force side in the Super 14 competition.
Although he is part of the Australian setup it does not surprise Smal that he makes negative remarks about the South Africans.
“His problems in New Zealand were with management. He is very loyal to their players. He also realises that to be involved in New Zealand rugby in future he must show his loyalty,” Smal said.
CALCULATED TACTICS
McCaw has often been accused of illegal tactics at breakdown points. Now Mitchell has been quoted in the Australian news media as saying the accusations are calculated tactics to ensure the referees focus on the All Black flank.
“There are people out there who focus on Richie. Burger is the one on which the focus should be. He does not stay on his feet well. He plays on the offside line and I don’t think he is as accurate as Richie,” Mitchell said.
It is no surprise that he has made these comments after the South Africans proved, with a convincing victory over Scotland last weekend, that they would be New Zealand’s main threat in this year’s World Cup tournament.
If things go according to plan, the two giants of world rugby will meet in the final.
The Springbok forwards, coached by Smal, were particularly impressive at Murrayfield.
Burger can take the remarks about his game as a compliment. He has been in outstanding form all season, despite serious doubts about his future last year.
“It takes a lot to stick your head in there against after an injury such as the one Schalk had,” Smal said.
He was relatively satisfied with the Springbok forwards’ performance in the 27-3 victory over Scotland. “We scrummed well and put together some good drives but we could have done better in the lineout.”
28 Aug 2007, 07:39 am
#715…Touche Mon Cherie
28 Aug 2007, 07:44 am
Skop no I am not aka manly. Princess humilioty has never been one of my strong points.Ask any of my ex wives!
28 Aug 2007, 08:01 am
Dominee
Oh Gooodddd, I can but only imagine
28 Aug 2007, 08:15 am
Nee man Ds Asyn, was just saying the doos is in Sydney, not Melbourne…
28 Aug 2007, 10:01 am
663
BigHit. Im surprised youre old enough to write. Your comment symbolises the Victim Mentality that sums up Sth African rugby fans, players and management. They cheat, we dont, POOR US !
Hopefully EVERYONE will now call Schalk a CHEAT, and lets see how YOU like it.
He’s a DISHONEST CHEAT ! Ban him.
28 Aug 2007, 10:40 am
I think you might find that Big Hit is an England supporter Black Panther.
28 Aug 2007, 10:46 am
BlackPanther, fantastic post, just one minor detail, he’s an england fan.
he gets u kiwis hopping around worse then Wallabie against our lot.
28 Aug 2007, 16:46 pm
gbs
you are idiot,imbecile,foolish.bari,moegoe.
29 Aug 2007, 01:02 am
Good morning folks from a sunny melbourne.rather be on the golf course
Pages: « 1 … 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 [15] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.