England boosted by Alex Mitchell’s return to fitness ahead of Ireland clash
England boosted by Alex Mitchell’s return to fitness ahead of Ireland clash
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England’s prospects of causing an upset against Ireland have improved after Alex Mitchell was cleared to take part in the Guinness Six Nations opener in Dublin. Mitchell became a doubt for Saturday’s Aviva Stadium showdown after suffering a knee injury on European duty for Northampton against Munster on January 18.
But England’s first choice scrum-half has now been added to the 36-man squad that is in Girona preparing for the match, clearing the path for his return against the tournament favourites. Mitchell replaces uncapped Saints team-mate Henry Pollock in the squad and is expected to be given the number nine jersey when head coach Steve Borthwick names his team on Thursday.
It will be his first appearance since facing New Zealand in Auckland in July after a neck injury ruled him out of the entire autumn series. Mitchell’s importance to England was underlined throughout November when his threat around the fringes and smart decision making were sorely missed in defeats to the All Blacks, Australia and South Africa.
In his absence none of the alternatives in the position – Ben Spencer, Harry Randall and Jack van Poortvliet – were convincing and the hierarchy below him remains uncertain. Spencer, Randall and Raffi Quirke are competing to provide scrum-half cover from the bench with Van Poortvliet ruled out against Ireland though injury.
