RUCK AND ROLL
GAVIN RICH: Mitchell could be the joker in the pack in South African rugby
Those who have been waiting patiently for South African rugby bosses to see the light and appoint an overseas coach for the Springboks may not have too much longer to wait. Indeed, don’t bet your house against the prospect of the big icon series against the British and Irish Lions in 2021 providing the platform for an absorbing rematch between two of the most experienced brains in world rugby: Eddie Jones and John Mitchell. Jones as coach of the Wallabies and Mitchell as coach of the All Blacks engaged in some intriguing battles back in the early part of the last decade. Mitchell got it over Jones in the build-up to the 2003 World Cup by introducing an attack system that caught the Australian off guard, with the All Blacks thumping the Wallabies by 50 points in a Tri-Nations fixture in Australia. But it has long been a regret for Mitchell that he showed his card so early. If he had his time again he would keep the changes to the All Black strategy under wraps until the World Cup its...
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