Rugby: Mitchell bounces back to laconic best

The craggy face of John Mitchell is as unmistakable as is his philosophy on rugby and life. Photo / Getty Images

The trademark face remains unique, unmistakable.

There is the shaven head, the scrunched-up ear and the nose that looks as though its lower half was caught by a freak gust of wind.

And if you still didn't recognise former All Black John Mitchell, his words after the opening round of the new Super Rugby season at the weekend would have been instantly recognisable.

There were the Lions, the Johannesburg-based franchise whom he coaches, going within a whisker of toppling the defending champions, local rivals Blue Bulls, with a barn-storming second-half performance. And yet Mitchell scoffed at the 20-24 near miss.

"A tight one got away and I am not happy. I'm not interested in coming second and I don't want any pats on the back for coming second. Our players were too individualistic and lacked discipline - our persecutor today was individualism," he said.

It was vintage Mitchell. But then, John Mitchell long since earned the right to tell it how it is. Flannelling, soft-soaping people, just isn't the man's style. With him, what you see is what you get.

The people of the South African city, stuck 1828m up amid the old gold fields of the Transvaal, marvelled at his recuperative powers after that horrific assault last year which came so close to killing him.

Thugs broke into his home, attacked him and tied him up. He was stabbed, lost much blood and his life was in danger. Having somehow survived physically, most human beings would have done just one thing - headed for the airport and the first plane out. But John Mitchell isn't like that.

"I was very lucky in many ways," he says now. "I have got over it now, but if I hadn't been so mentally strong I might have struggled. It was not a pleasant experience.

"I could have left the country. But I knew I had a choice - I could do that, or remain committed. But if I stayed I knew I had to accept that this sort of thing could happen here. Sure, it was some violence but I don't think it is just South Africans who are violent sometimes.

"What happened to me was ... as a result of ... desperation by some people. So now, I say to myself, move on. I am alive so just get on with it."

Typical Mitchell speak. Yet his next statement is stunning.

"In a way, it has been very good to have that experience and survive it. I think when your life is at risk, it puts a lot of things into perspective. It reminds you, your life can go, can be lost just like that.

"It's certainly an unusual feeling to be involved in something like that. I was tied up naked, from my ankles to my hands, for 45 minutes not knowing what the outcome would be. But it was the most unique experience and it taught me a lot about my life."

So, er, was that it? Has Mitchell just got on with life and consigned the experience to history? Well not exactly, as he confides to me.

"Nightmares? Yes, I struggle from time to time with those ... but less and less. I am lucky in that I am very busy and focused on something I love doing."

Whatever the outcome of Mitchell's tenure in Johannesburg with the Lions he remains a fascinating debater on the subject of the world game and its trends.

And in a World Cup year, who better to chew the cud with than the Kiwi who understands the psyche and mentality of the All Blacks?

One of his primary thoughts has been on the new interpretation of the tackle law, so revolutionary last season, yet now under more pressure and scrutiny in a World Cup year, he believes.

"It will be interesting to see whether the tackle contest becomes more contestable. Last year it wasn't but I wouldn't be sure about this year. If it does become more contestable, it will become a tighter game."

But why should it change? Mitchell smiles one of those thin smiles of his. "Well, the lawmakers always seem to want to change the laws at some point. I'm not saying it will change but I wouldn't be sure.

"I admit, I had reservations about it last year at the start of the Super rugby season with those ridiculous scores. But it was quite refreshing for the game and I believe the product is very, very good at the moment.

"When you think about what the game was like before these changes, you realise the importance of what was altered. If we get too far back towards 2007 ... and the style played then, especially at the penalty-ridden World Cup of that year ... then it is going to have a major effect on the game. It could lose its popularity.

"I just have a slight fear that we seem, as human beings, creatures who constantly seek change. Things seem to go in circles; we seem to come back to things. Last year, we probably went to the extreme of freedom as regards play at the breakdown. My wish would be that we get a very similar product at the World Cup this year, even though knock-out football will tighten up the games. That is inevitable."

And expertise in knock-out football could again be crucial come World Cup time, he thinks. "I always said to my friends that one of the great strengths of Northern Hemisphere rugby is, they are so used to knock-out rugby.

"That is a great strength when they get to the later stages of a World Cup. It was proved in 2003 and 2007. There is always a surprise in a World Cup with knock-out football."

And the All Blacks chances? "They will have to be a lot more focused on winning the breakdown and keeping the shape of their game. They will be expected to bring a lot more ball back [counter attacking from deep], which is one of their strengths.

"But there is a lot more territorial play involved in a World Cup and you can win this tournament by putting the ball between the poles. So to my mind, New Zealand has to get the balance right. At the moment, they have freedom in their play, but they are going to have to look at ways of playing a territorial game, too."

Most component parts of the All Blacks' game tick the box as far as Mitchell is concerned. "Their line-out, which has been a point of pressure, has grown. They scrum very well and their loose forwards are extremely mobile.

"Their back line likes space but you can cut that down."

Yet overall, he feels that the New Zealand players have grown as leaders these past two or three years, an attribute that should stand them in good stead come World Cup time.

And the contenders? "You can't discount England or France. Australia are an exciting young side but it may be a bit early for them. The test will be whether they can maintain the necessary physicality for three or four test matches in a row.

"As for South Africa, they have total belief in the way they play the game. They are prepared not to give away much possession and they are one of the best nations at applying pressure. They won't go far away from that style, what they are good at, during the World Cup.

"There is exceptional talent in this country and the energy a youngster brings rekindles the enthusiasm of experienced players. I certainly wouldn't write them off retaining the World Cup this year.

"This nation has a unique way of creating pressure. When they feel good about themselves, they create this pressure and it is unstoppable at times."