Ex-NZ boss Mitchell hints All Blacks ‘spying’ on England
Security officials with the team looked into the scene after spotting a suspicious red light.
John Mitchell, the England defence coach faces the media during the England media session on October 09, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Former New Zealand boss turned England defence coach John Mitchell has suggested the All Blacks may have been spying on their opponents ahead of Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final.
England were holding a training session on Tuesday when an unidentified cameraman was spotted in one of the residential buildings overlooking their practice ground in Tokyo.
Security officials with the team looked into the scene after spotting a suspicious red light.
Mitchell, New Zealand’s coach when they lost a 2003 World Cup semi-final to an Australia side under the guidance of now England boss Eddie Jones, hinted the All Blacks may have been behind the incident.
“If that is what they want to do, and that is the way they want to prepare, good luck to them,” he said.
The coach said there was a “suspicious” red light in one of the apartments overlooking their “excellent” training facilities but insisted: “It doesn’t really worry me.”
“This game is so dynamic now so I don’t see any advantage in spying on a team,” he added.
“There is enough pressure at this level without chasing around some blokes that might be in a building with a camera.”
Jones also downplayed the incident, which took place just days before the most important match of his four-year spell in charge of England, saying it might have been a Japanese fan.
He said he used to engage in sporting espionage but had not since 2001, as modern technology had made it obsolete.
“You can watch everyone’s training on YouTube. There’s no value in doing that sort of thing, absolutely zero.”
New Zealand have won 33 of their matches against England and the two-time reigning world champions will be strong favourites to triumph this weekend in Yokohama.
But England wing Anthony Watson said the fact several players had been involved in the 2017 British and Irish Lions squad that drew a Test series in New Zealand meant they knew the All Blacks were not an invincible force.
“They’re humans at the end of the day,” said Watson.
“There will be 23 of them and 23 of us on Saturday and they’re human beings and rugby players just like us.
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