Mitchell a "rabbit" of a different breed

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33612, 14 August 1974, Page 10

Mitchell a "rabbit" of a different breed

(By

K. J. McMENAMIN)

When a sportsman is tagged a rabbit there is usually no compliment intended. It is just another way of saying that he is no good, or, at best, nothing out of the ordinary. However, for the Linwood and Canterbury Rugby wing. T. W Mitchell, the term has a very different meaning; one which quite precisely reflects his ability as an attacking three-quarter. The nickname “Rabbit" was bestowed on Mitchell earlie' this season by his team-mate — in both Lin-

wood and Canterbury sides — W. F. McCormick After experiencing much difficulty in trying to get a hand on Mitchell during a Linwood training run, McCormick remarked: “He stops and starts so much you never know where he is going next; he’s just like a rabbit." The name stuck. But where rabbits are usually searching for cover it is getting into the clear that Mitchell excels and he is undeniably one of the most elusive wings Canterbury has had in recent years. He can be likened a little to M. J. Dixon, whose fancy footwork delighted

crowds in the 1950 s and W. M. Birtwistle, who sidestepped his way to an All Black jersey a decade later. Mitchell’s deceptiveness lies more in the body swerve and he is equally proficient off either foot. Added to this, he has an acceleration which few players, past or present, could match. When Canterbury beat Wellington at Athletic Park in June, Mitchell scored two of Canterbury’s three tries. Both times his chances of reaching the tryline when he received the ball looked well nigh hopeless. Yet each time he picked up speed so quickly that it was only a matter of a few paces before he had shot clear of his own marker and the Wellington cover defence. With 17 touchdowns, Mitchell is the leading tryscorer in the Christchurch senior competition this winter and in many cases he has forged his own path to the line. A classic example of his attacking skill was given when he threaded his way past no less than four Christchurch defenders to score for Linwood in the Harewood Trophy preliminary round two Sundays ago. All four defenders had Mitchell in their sights, but none could grab hold of him.

For Mitchell, who is 23, the coming weeks could mark an important stage in his career. He has been a Maori All Black, a Junior All Black, an All Black trialist and it might only require a little luck for him to become a fullyfledged All Black. It was the practice during the 1960 s for the national selectors to look for wings who could capitalise on the overlap made by the forwards winning a succession of rucks. This formula might have been successful in terms of matches won, but it did tend to diminish the value of wings who could create their own chaces. B. G. Williams, by his displays in South Africa in 1970, "revised this thinking and more recently G. B. Batty has further shown what an asset an enterprising wing can be. Mitchell might not yet be a Williams or a Batty, but the three men do have attributes in common, most notably the ability to score tries in situations where the straight speedster is likely to be forced into touch. In the coming weeks, Mitchell is likely to appear twice for New Zealand Maoris against Fiji and he will have other chances to improve his standing in the North Island on Canter*

bury’s forthcoming northern tour. If he should show up in a favourable light in these games then he could well becomes more than an outside prospect for a place in the All Black team to visit Ireland in November. Williams and Batty will almost certainly be the first wings chosen, but the third spot is open and if it is wings who can score tries the selectors are after then Mitchell will have to be considered. When he came to Canterbury from the Nelson Bays union in 1973, Mitchell was seen as a gifted attacking wing, but his defence was held to be suspect.

With experience he has improved this facet of his game and his major failing now is a tendency to “take off” before he has received the ball. This often means that he has to turn to take passes and as a result he is put off balance and loses momentum. Still, it is an error of which he should not have too much trouble ridding himself.

So for “Rabbit’ Mitchell there is the juicy carrot of an All Black jersey and a trip to Ireland in the offing. And it is not unknown for rabbits to strive that little bit harder when it is a carrot they are after.