SMART ALEX
Mitchell could be the best England No9 since Matt Dawson
THESE days, people might be more aware of Matt Dawson as a reality TV star and quiz show panellist but it should not be forgotten that the former scrum-half was one hell of a rugby player.
Strong in every facet of the position and imbued with a natural cockiness common to many of the best No9s, Dawson’s defining characteristic was his instinct for the game, or ‘smarts’.
Two stand-out moments come to mind, one on the Lions tour to South Africa in 1997 and the other in the World Cup final six years later.
Dawson had yet to establish himself with England when he was picked for the Lions and went out as third-choice scrumhalf behind compatriot Austin Healey and the brilliant Rob Howley from Wales.
But injury to Howley and some superb performances propelled the young Englishman into the Test side opposite Joost van der Westhuizen, universally acknowledged as the best No9 in the world.
Dawson owned him. The key play which sealed victory for the underdogs in the first Test was when Dawson broke on a wide arc from the back of the scrum and, just before he was about to be moshed by a horde of Bok defenders, threw an outrageous over-the-head dummy which flatfooted the cover as he scooted over in the corner. It was a huge moment in the history of the Lions and in Dawson’s career.
Fast forward to Australia in 2003 and Dawson was a senior figure in an England side seeking to make history as the first northern hemisphere winners of the World Cup. With the final deep into injury time, it was Dawson who sized up the situation and, with lethal timing, made the critical incision deep into Australian territory that allowed Jonny Wilkinson the space to seal glory with a drop goal.
England have not been short of quality scrumhalves over the years from Dickie Sharp back in the 1960s to the sublime passing of Nigel Melville in the ’80s and on to Kyran Bracken, Healey, Ben Youngs and Danny Care, set to win his 100th cap off the bench tomorrow. But Dawson was the best of the lot and none of England No9s to wear the jersey since his retirement in the mid-2000s has brought the same all-round quality. Until now. Alex Mitchell is not a name that reverberates around the rugby globe but there is a growing sense that he is close to hitting the same levels achieved by his Northampton clubmate 20 years previously.
The 26-year-old has been on the scene for a while (he won the first of his 13 caps back in 2021) but has not properly announced himself — injury issues and a tumultuous period for English rugby not helping his case.
This season, Mitchell has taken his game to another level. He has been sensational in a Northampton side that has been ripping it up at the top of the English Premiership.
Munster know all about him after he inspired a brilliant, shock, 23-26 Champions Cup victory in Thomond Park last January.
The scrum-half set the tone with a stunning individual try to open the scoring, flummoxing the Munster defence with two dummies before showcasing his speed on a scorching run to the line.
His pace is a big asset, while his passing and kicking are of equally high quality, but, just as with Dawson before him, it is Mitchell’s game ‘smarts’ that set him apart.
Ireland have to watch him closely tomorrow because, if there is any glimmer of a gap around the ruck or off set-piece possession, Mitchell will be through it in a thrice.
One of the reasons Mitchell is not more feted at this stage of his career is the degree to which his talent is constrained by England’s mind-numbing gameplan under Steve Borthwick.
He is well able for the hop-hophop, caterpillar ruck, box-kicking brief he is charged with, but there is so much more to Mitchell’s game than kicking for position — as has been shown repeatedly with Northampton.
Former out-half Paul Grayson played next to Dawson for many years with Northampton and England and is excited by what he sees in Mitchell.
‘At Northampton he is a catalyst for the way Saints play the game: quick, ball in hand. He tests defences with his running threat, smart service and ability to kick and dummy,’ said Grayson during the World Cup.
‘England’s game is so slow, so light on content. Mitchell has nothing like Daws’ experience but with him in the team they’re at least going to throw a few punches. He will challenge around the fringes, look to expose people and be a genuine accelerant for the team.’
Ireland need to keep a close eye on this guy tomorrow.
“He has taken his game to another level”