One 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.
Sharing a room on tour has long been part of the whole squad experience but, in Mitchell’s view, living with George Furbank, England’s full-back and a Saints teammate, is currently almost as awkward as facing the All Blacks. “We call him the ‘Facetime King’ because he’s constantly on Facetime to his girlfriend,” reports Mitchell. “The other night he was on the phone until midnight. We had training the next day and I was like, ‘George, you’re going to have to hang up’.
“Sometimes he’s on for hours. They’re like schoolchildren: talking about little things and giggling to each other. There was even one time when Furbs was lying on his front and kicking his legs up and down. I’m like ‘George, this is way too much.’ I’m single, so it infuriates me even more.”
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.
Exhibit A is the Northampton axis of Mitchell, Furbank and Tommy Mitchell, with Fin Smith on the bench. The Exeter duo of Henry Slade and Manny Feyi-Waboso are also developing an increasing rapport while the Saracens spine of Jamie George, Maro Itoje and Ben Earl have an intuitive bond forged over many years. Add all these flourishing mini-pods together and England are creating an increasing amount of cohesion.
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.
Notwithstanding his recent role as an extra in Romeo and Juliet, Mitchell has seen enough in his team’s Six Nations games against Ireland and France to persuade him that, soon enough, England have a seriously eye-catching performance in them. “I wouldn’t say we’re the finished article but in the last two games we’ve shown how much we’re improving in terms of both our defence and attack,” Mitchell confirms. “It gave us the confidence that we’re good enough when we play the top four sides in the world. We want to push into that top four and we know we’re close. We know we’re a good side; we just need to show it now.”
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. We’ve had a few more games than them and been together as a squad a bit longer. I think it’ll be very exciting.”
In a country that appreciates a good scrum-half, Mitchell also understands there is an onus on him to update a few local perceptions. Along with everyone else he grew up watching Aaron Smith, whose All Black career has now concluded, set the global standard for aspiring nines. This year, aside from France’s brilliant Antoine Dupont, there have not been many who have matched Mitchell’s quick-thinking game when he is given even a fraction of time and space.
The former British & Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton is his latest fan, having declared in the Times that Mitchell is “the world-class scrum-half” England have been seeking and a leading Test team candidate for next year’s Lions tour to Australia. Borthwick, for his part, is also backing the 27-year-old to improve further. “He has shown his class at international level in this last year. People talk about players needing time in the team to grow and develop. Alex Mitchell has done just that.”
Ironically, though, it was a Kiwi coach who was perhaps the chief catalyst in his development. Mitchell, the youngest of three sporty brothers, was not a regular first choice during his England age-group years and, had his rugby not worked out, might have been lost to the world of accountancy or economics. The moment Chris Boyd took charge at Northampton everything changed. “He gave the young boys confidence and chances, which a lot of coaches don’t do. He could have bought signings in from elsewhere but he backed us.”
It was not until last month that Saints hoisted the Premiership title under Phil Dowson and Sam Vesty but the departed Boyd’s influence has not been forgotten. “He could see how we could develop and become a Championship-winning side,” stresses Mitchell. “He was massive for us.”
The immediate goal on Saturday, though, is to deliver rather more than Mitchell and England managed against the junior All Blacks in the U20 World Cup final seven years ago. The final score was 64-17 to New Zealand and while Mitchell scored a tap-and-go try off the bench, his primary memory is of the current All Blacks reserve hooker Asafo Aumua scoring four of his side’s tries.
This time England have loftier aspirations, fresh from their encouraging warm-up win over Japan in Tokyo. They have also been enjoying the rare luxury of extra preparation time for this pivotal first Test. “We know we’re going to have to be on every little thing to get a result,” cautions Mitchell. “We can’t just ease off for five or 20 minutes because they’ll take advantage. That said, I think we’re in a really good place. We know they’re a quality outfit but we’re confident in our squad.” Assuming, of course, his loved-up roommate can be prised off Facetime in time for kick-off.
