John Mitchell bizarrely says Red Roses missing out on World Cup will not be failure

Telegraph

4 days ago

Following the Lionesses' historic European Championship win, attention now turns to the next big women's sports event this summer: a Women's Rugby World Cup on home soil.
England head coach John Mitchell announced his 32-player squad for the tournament, which is vastly experienced, with 1,374 caps between them.
As his side builds up to their first World Cup warm-up match with Spain on Saturday, Telegraph Sport picks out five key things we learnt from last week's Red Roses' squad announcement day at Twickenham.
Mitchell: Losing World Cup will not be a failure
This was arguably one of the most bizarre statements Mitchell has said since being appointed England's head coach. The New Zealander was effectively hired in 2023 to ensure the Red Roses, who have won 55 of their past 56 Tests, avenge back-to-back World Cup final heartache and win what could be a record-breaking tournament. Yet he believes if that goal is not achieved, it would not constitute a failure.
'If it doesn't happen, it's not going to define me,' said Mitchell, whose job is secure if England do not win the tournament. 'I won't let outcome get to me like I probably allowed it to get to me because it was everything when I was younger. Ultimately, at the end of the day, I still think through the experience we'll still be very good and to see the way the girls have grown in two and a half years, you don't need [an] outcome to determine how much this team is going to grow.
'It's something we're very keen to do, but it's not the only driver that drives us. We have a greater driver than just winning. We just want to be the best version we can be and should we be the most deserving come September then we'll deserve it. But to put all your eggs in one basket I think there's more to it than just winning. It's about getting it done, but making sure you have a phenomenal experience in doing it.'
Heartbreak for England yet again... 💔
What a game. What an occasion.
New Zealand are World Cup champions 🇳🇿 #RWC2021 #NZLVSENG pic.twitter.com/QSZQawGbo9
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) November 12, 2022
World Cup debriefs with Ben Youngs
Mitchell has been quoted in recent interviews about not wanting the Red Roses to be trapped in a 'high-performance jail' during the World Cup. It was a phrase he first heard when he appeared on the Love of Rugby podcast hosted by Dan Cole and Ben Youngs, when the latter shared his learnings of competing in four World Cups for England.
'It was quite cool how he described it as a 'high-performance jail', which I get really because the older I've got as a coach in high-performance rugby, you get sick of hotels and rooms,' said Mitchell, who is keen on letting his players enjoy a down day every week once the tournament is underway.
'We very much prefer our own homes and the way the discussion started was, even though World Rugby owns the tournament, how do we get an advantage at our own home World Cup? We've also got to be mindful of how we give the girls a chance to get away from rugby on our free day. We've got to find one free day a week where they can get their independence and energy back.'
Learnings from youthful All Blacks squad in 2003
In previous interviews Mitchell has drawn similarities between the Red Roses and the inexperienced All Blacks side that fell to Australia at the semi-final at the men's World Cup in 2003.
'This team is more experienced than the team I exposed to the 2003 World Cup,' said Mitchell, whose England squad includes 24 players who have already been to a World Cup. 'I took the risk with a young All Blacks squad that then eventually served New Zealand for another nine years. I probably wasn't the bearer of my fruit but I made all the changes and took the risk of taking a young, enthusiastic squad who was playing outstanding rugby.'
No hard and fast rules with social media
The reach of women's rugby is growing all the time through social media, which is epitomised by the sport's most-followed player, Ilona Maher. The American's influence following her three-month stint at Bristol Bears in Premiership Women's Rugby last year has rubbed off on many of the Red Roses.
Sarah Bern, the tighthead prop, is one of many following Maher's lead by posting authentic and occasionally humorous content that promotes women's rugby and body positivity. Some players, of course, choose not to look at social media during tournaments, but for those who will, there will be no hard and fast rules.
'I'll probably just play it like a parent as the tournament goes,' said Mitchell. 'The girls definitely know there's going to be good and bad social media and you're going to be judged, but also that they're going to be supported regardless of what happens.'
When the post-match interview gets interrupted for a TikTok dance 🤣 #BBCRugby #W6N pic.twitter.com/K70LwP7l1f
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) March 29, 2025
England were 'under resourced' at previous World Cups
Simon Middleton, the former England coach and Mitchell's predecessor, repeatedly claimed that the Red Roses' programme was top-notch during his tenure. But Mitchell has cast doubt on that idea when asked if he had consulted the likes of Marlie Packer and Emily Scarratt for advice about the squad's previous World Cup campaigns.
'I'm not sure they understand what the best preparation is because we keep evolving,' Mitchell said of the experienced pair. 'They've had to prepare for World Cups with limited resources whereas now there's probably no excuses around the use of resources and the way that we're supported. I probably should have asked them but at the time it was more like, 'What am I going to learn from an under-resourced program?''