Mitchell: I am not resigning

By WYNNE GRAY at the World Cup

John Mitchell's case for reinstatement as All Black coach has taken a bad hit.

The 39-year-old has no intention of quitting after the All Blacks' World Cup journey came to a shuddering end when they were bounced out of the tournament 22-10 by the Wallabies in Saturday's semifinal.

But Mitchell's methods, style and administration will face stronger scrutiny after the poorest performance from his side in his two-year stint with assistant Robbie Deans.

"I love coaching, but that is up to my employers going forward," Mitchell said. "This has been a fantastic group to be part of and I have got no hint of handing in my resignation or anything like that. I love coaching and I'll leave it at that."

The All Blacks have played with an elan which has generated massive support, only to wither in the heat of World Cup fire again.

The cream of the nation's rugby talent, the All Black machine which had been bankrolled generously and given every assistance to win the Webb Ellis Cup, crashed badly.

It was out-coached, out-thought, outplayed and out of the tournament.

Mitchell's contract concludes at the end of this year, his test record now standing at 22 wins, one draw and four defeats - twin losses to the Wallabies and England.

His previous losses were narrow, but Saturday was as comprehensive as he would dare contemplate.

The worry was the reappearance of the old shortcomings, the lineout wobbles, erratic goalkicking, capitulation under pressure and lack of variety.

The All Blacks were unable and not good enough to impose their game on an inspired Wallaby side.

Those are coaching matters, irrespective of other issues about organisation and direction which Mitchell will debate with his NZRFU employers.

History has not been kind to All Black coaches who have failed at World Cups. Alex Wyllie went after a semifinal defeat in 1991, Laurie Mains after an extra-time final defeat in 1995 and John Hart after a semifinal explosion in 1999.

The coach was unable to say whether his record would hold up when he reapplied for the job.

"That is up to my employers and really the person that they want to take All Black rugby forward in 2004.

"Firstly I am accountable for this team and accountable for that performance and I make no excuses. We did not get it right tonight and I feel sorry for the fans in New Zealand, but ... we feel twice as bad.

"We are the people who are in the arena and have to deal with it and that is even more difficult."

If there is to be a coaching change, there have to be alternative candidates.

Graham Henry could challenge on the strength of his work with the Blues, Auckland, Wales and the British Lions. He has always said he would love to coach the national side.

Rather than signal those intentions, however, Auckland wisely chose to announce his appointment last week as their next provincial coach rather than wait and see what transpired at the World Cup.

But would the New Zealand Rugby Football Union consider it a progression to replace a man just two years into the job and still to hit 40 with someone still in tune with the job but considerably older?

After two strong (losing) finishing games from Wales, Steve Hansen might consider an application, but his lack of recent involvement in New Zealand would damage that claim.

Other Super 12 coaches are early into their careers at that level, while victorious NPC coaches Wayne Pivac and Grant Fox are leaving to pursue other avenues.

Mitchell and Deans have added two years' experience on the international stage, they have uncovered a vibrant side, one that is also young and developing.

It is now a case of whether the NZRFU sides with the kneejerk reactions, or sees a continuing pathway with the current group.

Results are damn near everything, but sometimes New Zealand has to accept the All Blacks cannot win every international.

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