Steve Borthwick’s selection of scrum-half is fascinating – and a recognition that England need to move the dial on their game
Alex Mitchell’s selection at scrum‑half fascinates me. Has he really improved so much in the space of a month in Steve Borthwick’s eyes that he has managed to go from outside the World Cup squad looking in to starting England’s crucial pool‑stage match? Or is his selection a recognition that his style of play runs in tandem with what brings out the best in this England? I believe it is the latter and Borthwick needs to be given his fair share of credit for that.
There’s an opinion that Borthwick is quite set in his ways. It was very clear how Leicester went about things and he’s continued that with England. But it’s also important to have malleable thinking, look at what you’ve got and then say: “I know this has got me success to this point but we need to slightly change what we do.” I’d have thought those conversations would have taken place with players such as Owen Farrell, George Ford – they’re as close as you’d get to coaches on the field – as well as Ellis Genge and Courtney Lawes. We’ve got a great brains trust to be able to figure out the direction of travel for the game.
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