Mitchell open to Wallaby advances

John Mitchell

John Mitchell adamantly rejects claims that Wallaby coach Eddie Jones has sounded him out to be one of his assistants.

But Mitchell - whose tenure as All Black coach ended at the hands of Jones' team at the World Cup - is open to an offer to join the Wallaby camp.

The 40-year-old Waikato NPC coach is rated by some Australian media as the leading contender to coach the new Super 14 team in Perth.

That led to a claim in The Australian that Jones had approached Mitchell about joining his staff.

Jones wouldn't comment when asked about Mitchell, who began his international coaching career as an assistant to former England coach Clive Woodward.

Mitchell told the Herald last night that he had spoken to Jones - along with others such as Woodward and former South African coach Rudolf Straeuli - about coaching matters.

But Jones had never given the "slightest hint" he wanted him on his staff.

"That's a pearler, that one. It was a big surprise to hear that story," Mitchell said.

"But I guess it's nice to be acknowledged in that way ... and I'm open to the global market. I'm very comfortable with the idea.

"It doesn't detract from the fact that I love New Zealand and am very proud to be a New Zealander.

"But my coaching career has taken a different course to most New Zealanders. I took off on my own accord and doors opened elsewhere.

"The conversations with Eddie are not great, long phone calls and we don't meet personally.

"And I get used to these stories. I was supposed to be in Bath [in England] around New Year when the only bath I was in was at Whangamata."

Mitchell has long signalled his interest in the job at Perth. West Australian rugby made contact through a recruitment company, but he has yet to be invited to an interview.

Mitchell has two years on his Waikato contract and keeps chief executive Gary Dawson informed of developments.

"I am not one to stand still and I want to become a more effective coach," Mitchell said.

"Like most coaches I get frustrated about the intermittency of coaching here. I will prepare my team for only 11 contests this year. You get rusty. And I've got plenty of energy and enthusiasm to continue coaching for a long time."

Mitchell's Perth prospects have brought a mixed reaction across the Tasman.

Wallaby great Mark Ella said: "While Mitchell is a very respectable coach, that should be an Australian position ... that's one less opportunity and we'll lose more coaches overseas."

But legendary hooker Phil Kearns said: "He is a fantastic coach. The fact he is a New Zealander doesn't worry me at all.

"If he is the most probable person to make Western Australian succeed, we should pick him.

"It is okay for us to pick up Dan Vickerman, Clyde Rathbone [from South Africa] and Radike Samo [from Fiji].

"There are a lot of foreigners coaching national teams around the world. It should not be an issue."

Former World Cup winning coach Bob Dwyer also believes nationality should be irrelevant.

Dwyer has spent four years coaching in England and one in France, and believes nationality should have nothing to do with coaching appointments.

"I am a free market man and I do not go along with anything else," he said.

"Now if the person has a personality which does not suit that can be a factor, but the fact that somebody is foreign should not be a deterrent."

While Dwyer admits it is possible for a foreigner to coach an Australian Super 14 side, he doubts the day will come when that would be the case for the Wallabies.
"I can't envisage it, but there's no reason to say it should not [happen]."

Mitchell's career

* English club coach

* Assistant England coach

* Waikato development coach

* Chiefs coach

* All Blacks coach

* Waikato coach

- additional reporting AAP