England scrum-half will start the Test series against New Zealand in a team brimming with confidence and hope
ne of Alex Mitchell’s strengths is his calm, unflappable temperament. Very little irritates the England scrum-half, an increasingly important cog in a team looking to play at a higher pace and tempo. There is an exception to every rule, however, and a recurring off-field issue has been disrupting the Northampton half-back’s preparations for the Test series against New Zealand.
Should Mitchell not be on absolutely sparkling form in the first Test we will now know why. And ditto, obviously, if Furbank has an absolute stormer. But, in truth, this heart-encrusted slice of tour trivia also serves to underline something else. England’s players increasingly know what makes each other tick and that easy familiarity is starting to reveal itself on and off the pitch.
On its own it might not necessarily secure victory but it has enhanced collective confidence. And confidence is every scrum-half’s best friend. Less than a year ago, Mitchell was not even among the three nines originally selected by Steve Borthwick for the Rugby World Cup. Suddenly he is the No 1 pick in an upwardly mobile England side which is approaching games like this one with a far more proactive mindset.
Because while New Zealand still have plenty of talent, Mitchell believes England can pose them some distinctly awkward questions. “They’re quality players and one of the best sides in the world. But you know they’re not unbeatable. When we last played them at Twickenham in 2022 it was 25-25. You’ve got to accept the challenge they pose but we’ve also got so many quality players and coaches in our squad. The way our system works … you’ve got to take confidence from that.
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