Mitchell will rest All Blacks big guns against England
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Six years ago, the England coach, Clive Woodward, and his assistant, the New Zealander John Mitchell, were laughed out of towns the length and breadth of the southern hemisphere for fielding sub-standard teams during what became known as the tour of hell.
Next month, the same John Mitchell will lead a seriously weakened All Black team on an end-of-season European jaunt featuring a one-off Test at Twickenham, and while no one with an ounce of sanity would predict a series of 1998-style humiliations for the visitors, the unfamiliarity of the silver-ferned squad is likely to provoke considerable discontent among rugby's politicians.
Mitchell, who left England at the end of the 1999-2000 campaign and became New Zealand coach a year later, has already ruled out five front-line internationals – Leon MacDonald, Anton Oliver, Greg Feek, Tom Willis and his captain, Reuben Thorne – on injury grounds. A number of others are also struggling for fitness, including Mark Hammett, Greg Somerville, Chris Jack, Norm Maxwell, Aaron Mauger and Caleb Ralph.
Andrew Mehrtens, one of the great names in All Black rugby, has missed recent matches in the National Provincial Championship and there is concern that the likes of Justin Marshall and Richie McCaw are playing too much.
Asked yesterday whether he would be resting players in large numbers, thereby risking the wrath of northern hemisphere administrators who have given the New Zealand Tests the hardest of hard sells, Mitchell replied: "I don't like the word rest. Anyone not selected for the tour will not be resting. Some will be fulfilling their annual leave requirements, others will be getting their operations done. A couple of them are basically hanging together after four years of constant rugby.
"I will make recommendations to my players based on advice from the medical and fitness support teams. No one has asked to be left behind – they are too proud of their All Black jerseys and the team is too important to them – but we have to be sensible and look towards next year and the 2003 World Cup."
The All Blacks – who play England on 9 November before facing France and Wales on consecutive weekends – and have not been seen in London since the 1999 World Cup and because of the fixture's rarity value, Twickenham's 75,000 seats could have been sold at least three times over. Mitchell, who names his squad on 28 October, says he intends to bring "hungry" players, but those shelling out £50-plus for a ticket expect the real deal. Sadly, many of the top-notchers are hungry for a rest rather than another ruck.
Four Welsh sides – Bridgend, Cardiff, Llanelli and Pontypridd – can certainly expect to face strong opposition over Test weekends next month. A South African quartet of Western Province, Eastern Province, Free State and Blue Bulls will travel to Wales to participate in a new Challenge Cup tournament, designed to give non-international players some meaningful activity during a dead period for club rugby. The teams will play two fixtures apiece, beginning on 8 November, and the best performers from each country will meet in a final a week later.
London Irish have imposed a club suspension on their flanker James Cockle, citing an act of "crass stupidity". Cockle, sent off for stamping during the match at Sale last weekend, appears before a disciplinary panel this evening.
A club spokesman described his action as "intolerable", adding: "The team suffered on Saturday and will continue to do so. We will travel to Toulouse this weekend for our first ever Heineken Cup match without specialist back-row cover."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments