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Pieter Jordaan
Johannesburg – The Lions were made to sweat by coach John Mitchell in Monday’s training session, but it was also clear that he was working with their minds as much as their bodies.
“Your attitude is soft! You are not prepared to work together! You are lazy, lift that backside off the ground! Come on ladies, over the line, come on!”
That was how Mitchell worked with the Lions’ heads as they weren’t given a second to catch their breath.
The punishing session at the Johannesburg stadium showed that Mitchell believes in the saying ‘nice guys come second’. He was everything but a nice guy.
What Mitchell has achieved, is to nurture a group with a positive attitude. Other than might have been the case in previous years, it was not a squad of depressed players, shattered by results, that carried out the instructions.
The players constantly encouraged one another with a “come on, Lions” or “well done, mate”.
In fact, Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein may well be a turning point.
Mitchell said on Monday that his team has all the key ingredients for success, but that they players require self-belief.
“Many of the players are still wounded from the past and are still carrying that baggage. We have to make sure they get a new attitude. We need more positive leadership and contributions by the players,” he said.
Johannesburg – The Lions were made to sweat by coach John Mitchell in Monday’s training session, but it was also clear that he was working with their minds as much as their bodies.
“Your attitude is soft! You are not prepared to work together! You are lazy, lift that backside off the ground! Come on ladies, over the line, come on!”
That was how Mitchell worked with the Lions’ heads as they weren’t given a second to catch their breath.
The punishing session at the Johannesburg stadium showed that Mitchell believes in the saying ‘nice guys come second’. He was everything but a nice guy.
What Mitchell has achieved, is to nurture a group with a positive attitude. Other than might have been the case in previous years, it was not a squad of depressed players, shattered by results, that carried out the instructions.
The players constantly encouraged one another with a “come on, Lions” or “well done, mate”.
In fact, Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein may well be a turning point.
Mitchell said on Monday that his team has all the key ingredients for success, but that they players require self-belief.
“Many of the players are still wounded from the past and are still carrying that baggage. We have to make sure they get a new attitude. We need more positive leadership and contributions by the players,” he said.
