You might describe it as ironic but Bulls director of rugby John Mitchell has slammed the Melbourne Rebels for negative tactics in the Bulls 28-10 Super Rugby victory over in Pretoria over the weekend.
The former All Blacks and Western Force coach was unhappy with the Rebels’ decision to slow the game down, describing their tactics as “totally negative”.
“You have to win ugly in this competition as well,” he told Supersport after the game. “But our performance wasn’t superb on attack. We presented ourselves enough opportunities especially in the first half.
“The guys need to be commended with their composure and clearly a strategic move by the opposition to slow the game down.”
The 54-year-old didn’t stop there going on to say tactics like the Rebels employed are in danger of damaging the whole Super Rugby competition.
“I’m not sure SANZAAR needs a product like that,” he added.
“It certainly wasn’t our doing and it is amazing, it might have suited a Bulls team of old, but 48 minutes running time first half, and 52 minutes second half.
“If the game is going to head in that direction, then it’s totally negative.”
HIGHLIGHTS: 2018 Super Rugby Week 10: Bulls v Rebels #SuperRugby #BULvREBhttps://t.co/vG6VcZvNd7
— Super Rugby (@SuperRugby) April 21, 2018
Mitchell refused to blame referee Ben O’Keefe but praised his players for not falling into the Rebels’ trap, often utilized off the ball, preventing the Bulls from employing their fast-paced style of play.
“I’m actually not sure whether to judge Ben at all because I’m not sure what the game constitutes or the protocols that exist,” he added.
“Is that law? It is certainly not a presentable fabric of this awesome game in a way that it can be played.
“I think the whole (referee) panel will take a good look at it. Like with us, there is a lot of emotion after a performance.
“But we will take the five points. We got there in a difficult way, in a very challenging way and like I said, I commend the guys for the way they didn’t let their frustration get to them. And we kept them to 10, which is awesome.
“We put some very good line speed on them. I don’t think we were terrific in the tackle, but some weeks you don’t get it right and you’ve just got to hang in there right to the end and that is where the guys need to be given credit.”
The captain and coach speak post-match from Pretoria.
— Melbourne Rebels (@MelbourneRebels) April 22, 2018
READ: https://t.co/2DrCDrYbE1 #NeverBackDown pic.twitter.com/bZLMVr9Xq8
Rebels coach Dave Wessels readily admitted that it was part of his team’s strategy to slow the game down.
“Yeah, we purposely slowed down the first part of the game to, I guess, take away some of the energy from the early part of the contest and try and finish on top of the game strong,” he said.
“I thought we finished the game, I was really proud of the guys the way they came out after half time, and upped the tempo and started to really play well.
“At one point it was 21-10 and we hustled them in their 22 and if we scored there it would be 21-17. It would have been a tight game. But it is a real credit to the Bulls.
“I think they are an excellent side, they are well coached and they deserved the win.”
