John Mitchell remains calm but he’s reaching breaking point

John Mitchell won’t knock down doors yet to punish yellow card offenders but his Blue Bulls troops have been warned.

Discipline has been a major problem for the men from Pretoria in their Currie Cup campaign to date, a nasty habit that had a big influence on last weekend’s 15-51 thrashing at the hands of the Pumas in Mbombela.

Also read: This weekend’s talking points from the Currie Cup

Replacement loose forward Jano Venter and lock Ruben van Heerden were both sent to the bin within five minutes of each other.

“There will certainly be consequences for the players going forward if they’re going to be unreliable in that area,” Mitchell said yesterday, ahead of Friday evening’s meeting with Griquas at Loftus.

“It’s the same with core skills. All those things are changing.”

But the former Lions and All Blacks mentor is also walking a tightrope in terms of not overreacting.

It’s perfectly plausible that he’s inherited players that probably wouldn’t have been in his plans and, at least for now, has to make do with what he has.

“We have to remember we’re in transition,” said Mitchell.

“One can’t be a miracle worker in terms of changing bad habits within seven days. But in time we’ll surely get there.”

With morale seemingly at a low point in 2017, it would seem the Blue Bulls are in desperate need of a fix.

And Mitchell believes it isn’t a difficult one.

“All our problems are all mental. We just have to address that. It’s as simple as that,” he said.

Nic de Jager, eighthman and captain, agreed.

“We were hampered by two yellow cards and five tries from driving mauls,” he said.

“If we can stop that leak, there will be a massive swing in points already. If we can just tighten that up already, we’ll be better.”