England’s 9-10 combination of Alex Mitchell and George Ford were at the heart of a strong Autumn series in which they beat Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Argentina, and as we approach the Six Nations, they are still Steve Borthwick’s main men.

This was reflected in England’s 36-man training squad for the tournament announced on Friday, and is easily understood.
Mitchell is a proven Test scrum-half who is best suited to a high-tempo strategy, while Ford has over a century of caps, and Borthwick likes the sure and steady experience that he brings.
The players in the 9 and 10 shirts are the...