John Mitchell says ‘no thanks’ to promoting national interest
Hopes that Springboks Handre Pollard and Rudy Paige will gain match fitness are dashed as their Bulls coach confirms he won't pick them.
Handre Pollard will have to be content with just training with the Bulls this week. Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images.
Despite various observers believing Handre Pollard desperately needs to play a Currie Cup to regain some match fitness, he won’t be afforded any favours by John Mitchell.
The Blue Bulls’ director of rugby has confirmed that he’s not interested in picking the Springboks flyhalf for Saturday’s meeting with the Sharks in Durban.
Also read: How much does the Currie Cup need these Springboks?
Springboks management earlier this week made Pollard and scrumhalf Rudy Paige available for action this week.
“We have been very clear about that and they (the Springboks) understand,” Mitchell told the Pretoria News.
“This is done for our team cohesion and the growth of ourselves is more important at this minute. But they can also still prepare very well for Test week by training with us.”
Indeed, the Bulls have been hampered in this campaign by their constant chopping and changing before it was finally decided to let Mitchell replace Nollis Marais as coach.
Results haven’t necessarily improved yet but there are signs of the players starting to grasp their mentor’s methods.
Disrupting the team dynamic just to suit the Springboks for one week seems too much of a risk for Mitchell.
“It’s actually difficult for Test players to just immerse themselves back in and expect to play well. Their intent is great but their rhythm, timing and everything is a new person,” said the former All Blacks coach.
“We’ve already had too much change as a result of factors that are beyond our control.”
The South African Rugby Union (Saru) have confirmed there’ll be no action taken as it’s the union’s decision whether they want to pick players released from the national squad.
