Goff Rugby Report sat down with new USA 15s MNT Coach John Mitchell for an interview posted this past weekend.

We didn't use all of his comments in the original interview, so here are some additional comments from the new Eagles coach:

 

On how there was turmoil in previous coaching jobs.

I grew up in a basketball family. I played [rugby] for sort of an un-fancied province. I probably did more of my coaching apprenticeship in England. I came from a very sort of hard-working rugby club.

After the All Blacks I have chosen to take on some very challenging jobs and been asked stretch some teams from the possible and the impossible. The starting point of some of those teams have been quite toxic and hectic in many ways.

Those sort of challenges is something that I have actually enjoyed. The difficulties come when the organization can from time to time become dysfunctional. And that hurts preparation and eventually performance.

(See also this article about Mitchell's book and how he viewed the rugby culture in Australia.)

 

On having a pro league in the USA, and depending on it to provide players even though the pro league hasn’t played a single game yet.

Having a pro league is important, but it’s also important having a CEO like Nigel [Melville], who I’ve worked with before. Every coach has to have stability above him.

Having been the inaugural coach of the Western Force, Australia tried a similar thing [as Pro Rugby]. The model was too costly, but now they have a proper cost model and good sponsorships. It will be there at some point but there will be some teething problems.

The key thing is, because everyone has had a narrow focus on his own particular region or state or club, now the challenge is, am I open to alignments? Should we all attack the same way as the national team. Should we align ourselves to the Eagles’ defense system? And, as national coaches, how can we pass on information to the pro coaches and give them a pathway to one day become Eagles coaches themselves.

So to me it’s probably about chucking the egos out the door. As elite coaches we’re all under the same roof. If people are prepared to share and pass on, it’s a really fun way to go about it and over time it can be a very powerful situation for USA Rugby.

 

On influences from other sports - Mitchell grew up playing basketball and was quite accomplished as a basketball player. He calls his family a “basketball family.”

The language other sports is useful. It’s certainly important to look at other sports and how they prepare. You could see some micro skill being developed that can challenge your mind and how you look at how that fits into our sport.

It does not hurt anyone to cross-code. The athleticism of NBA players and the power of NFL players is unbelievable. Our game rugby union is a very dynamic sport and they are one of the most cross-trained athletes in sports - you’ve got plyometrics, jumping, catching, passing, quick sprints, long distance. It’s a bit of everything and that’s why I think we can learn off other sports.

 

How the USA team can start to convert inside opposing 22s and turn pressure into tries.

Defenses are at their biggest strength in that area. It requires structure, and probably this area of the field requires the greatest patience of all. You may have to go the longest time with the ball.

In that area of the field you’ve just got to be smarter, earlier, and harder than the opposition. It’s something I can help the guys with and explore ways to build the scoreboard. There are ways to build the scoreboard. It’s an interesting part of the field.

 

How he will handle not selecting the squad or, really, even his coaching staff going into the Americas Rugby Championship.

I’m not particularly worried about that because that’s what a high performance system should be doing. Somebody’s eyes might see athletes that are potentially better for the mix.

I’ve always enjoyed selecting sides and I’ve had an eye for them. I enjoy the selection process.

(Here Mitchell implies that he expects to put his own stamp on selections as time moves on.)

 

On patience.

It’s ideal that we’re playing the #5 team in the World [Argentina] because that’s where we want to get to. Their performance in the World Cup was the culmination of [their time] in the Rugby Championship. (Argentina joined the Rugby Championship in 2012 - AG.) That gives you an idea of what it might take us to getting to that ultimate style [of play], as well.

Everybody wants it to come quicker but we’re going to have to be patient, as well.

 

How he will work with the USA 7s team.

If you look at the legacy of USA Rugby, it comes from the Olympics. And you look at what USA Rugby has done in 7s where the Bokke and All Black 7s are scared of them. That’s a great example to us at 15s that nothing’s impossible.

I mentioned Argentina and their growth and moving away from that slow kicking and defense game. There are some really great examples of what professionalism and having a conviction to stock to a plan can do.

Now, to me, in our model, our 7s have to be totally integrated into our model. So I will be working very closely with Michael [Friday[ and Chris [Brown]. I am actually looking forward to it. In my coaching background, thats where I found [All Black wing] Joe Rokocoko. It’s amazing what you can find. The fundamentals built into 7s suits certainly positions in 15s.

It will be part of our program, and will be integrated, because the players and coaches have a lot to offer, as well.