Mitchell raised as Wallaby possible

Australian coach Eddie Jones was surprisingly noncommittal yesterday when asked if former All Blacks mentor John Mitchell may figure in the Wallabies' rugby management.

The Australian newspaper reported speculation that Jones, who was instrumental in Mitchell and the All Blacks' semifinal demise at the 2003 World Cup, had sounded out Mitchell about joining the national team's coaching staff.

Jones has yet to name his Wallabies' assistants.

"I'm not commenting," Jones said, when asked if he had spoken to Mitchell.

"We are looking at who we are going to have now."

Jones had former Wallaby Ross Reynolds as forwards coach on last November's Northern Hemisphere tour, plus assistance from John Muggleton (defence), Cameron Lillicrap (scrums) and Scott Wisemantel (technical skills).

Gary Dawson, the chief executive of the Waikato Rugby Union would not comment last night and Mitchell could not be contacted.

Mitchell, a former assistant to Sir Clive Woodward in England, is already seeking a coaching role in Australia.

The Waikato NPC coach is among the seven candidates to lead Super 14 expansion side Perth next year.

The Australian Rugby Union stipulates Super 12 coaches must be eligible to coach the Wallabies. Although there is no rule barring foreigners from coaching posts, it is thought an Australian would be preferred in Perth.

But Rugby West Australia has Mitchell at the head of a shortlist of candidates to be interviewed.

He and Australians Rod Kafer, Muggleton, Michael Cheika, Andy Friend, Allan Gaffney and John Mulvihill will be interviewed by an independent panel.

Mitchell was unavailable for comment yesterday but told the xtramsn.co.nz website that he had yet to be interviewed for the position.

He is contracted to Waikato through to the end of 2006.

- NZPA