In a long, distinguished and varied coaching career, there is one thing that John Mitchell is yet to achieve. The 61-year-old Kiwi’s post-playing life has spanned roles on five continents and nearly 30 years but the World Cup crown that all coaches covet has so far eluded him.
It could have come in 2003, when he led his native New Zealand across the Tasman with hopes of glory and returned from Australia bundled out by the hosts at the semi-final stage, before soon being bundled out of a job himself. It took time for Mitchell to rebuild his reputation before another shot came as an assistant to Eddie Jones with England’s men in 2019 – only to fall short against South Africa in Yokohama having arguably played their World Cup final a week early.
