John Mitchell Has A Big Task Ahead Of Him As He Takes Charge Of The Red Roses And Leads Them Towards The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. So, What Should Be At The Top Of His To-Do List As He Sets About Guiding England To Success On Home Soil?
First Things First, Mitchell Needs To Immerse Himself In Women’s Rugby. Despite His Impressive CV, There’s No Experience In Women’s Rugby, So He Needs To Get Out There. He Should Watch Premiership Women’s Rugby Matches And Attend Club Training Sessions To Get A Feel For The Game And Understand The Unique Challenges It Presents.
It’s Important To Remember That Women’s Rugby, While Similar To The Men’s Game, Has Its Own Set Of Challenges And Differences. Professionalism In The Women’s Game Is Not Yet At The Same Level As In The Men’s Game, And Mitchell Needs To Focus On Learning About These Differences.
Next, Mitchell Should Make An Effort To Get To Know The Players. Just Like A New CEO In A Business, He Should Take The Time To Understand The Players And Their Perspectives. What Do They Think Needs To Be Improved? It’s Crucial For Mitchell To Hear The Players’ Side Of Things And Build A Strong Rapport With Them.
Building A Strong Bond With The Team Captain, Marlie Packer, Is Also Essential. The Captain And Head Coach Are A Unit, And Their Relationship Sets The Tone For The Entire Team. Mitchell Should Stick With Packer As Captain, As She Has The Respect Of The Players And Has Consistently Delivered Strong Performances. Additionally, Developing Other Leaders In The Team Will Be Important For The Long Term.
Furthermore, Mitchell Needs To Focus On Building The Team Behind The Team. Just Like A New Prime Minister Assembles A Trusted Cabinet, Mitchell Should Build Relationships With His Coaching Team And Ensure That He Has The Right People Around Him. Adding A Scrum Coach And Seeking External Expertise When Needed Could Further Strengthen The Coaching Setup.
Diversifying The Game Plan Is Another Key Area Of Focus. England’s Game Plan At The 2022 World Cup Was Heavily Forward-Orientated, And It’s Important To Introduce More Variety In Their Playing Style. Having Different Strategies For Different Oppositions Will Be Crucial For Success In The 2025 World Cup.
Finally, Mitchell Must Develop A World Cup Mindset Within The Team. With The RFU’s Strong Focus On The 2025 World Cup, Mitchell’s Goal Is Clear: To Win The Tournament. England’s Biggest Challenge Has Been Performing At World Cups, And Mitchell Needs To Address The Crucial Mindset Needed To Win In Those High-Pressure Moments. Developing A Winning Mentality And Finding The Missing Ingredient Will Be Key To England’s Success In 2025.