Boyd: Mitchell has become the complete professional
CHRIS Boyd will return to New Zealand at the end of the season, but one of the legacies he leaves English rugby is scrum-half Alex Mitchell, who has been arguably the Premiership's form player in the last couple of months.
The 24-year-old Mitchell, who won his only England cap off the bench against Tonga last November, has been called up to train with the national squad this week.
He is in line to feature against the Barbarians next month having drawn comparisons with Ireland's Jamison Gibson-Park for his speed in travelling from ruck to ruck and getting the ball away.
“I was disappointed to lose Cobus Reinach a couple of years ago,” said Boyd, Northampton's director of rugby for the last four seasons who coached Gibson-Park at Under-21 level in New Zealand. “When he was at the top of his game, he was a world-class scrum-half.
“The upside was that we had to produce oxygen for Alex to grow and I think his performances at the moment are underpinned by the relentless way he trains.
“He has worked out what he needs to do to be good, whether that is kicking or passing and he has become the complete professional. It has happened very quickly. I remember when he was in the academy and driving his grandmother's car, a small box-shaped thing. It is a bit different now.”
England's head coach Eddie Jones watched Northampton train last week and had a chat with Boyd whose side had six players in the squad, four of them in the backs with Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall and George Furbank joining Mitchell.
“We had a good yarn,” said Boyd. “Eddie does the rounds with everyone and his communication is full and open. As coaches, you have to pick your battles when talking with him about players. At the end of the day, the biggest promotion is form on the field and Alex's has been compelling. I would have thought the decision to pick him was not a hard one.”
Opponents have also been impressed with Mitchell. When Northampton defeated Harlequins at the end of last month, their speed of delivery from the ruck in the first half was 1.8 seconds. “We had a torrid time with him six weeks ago,” said the London Irish flanker, Sean O'Brien. “He was so quick to pick the ball up and his change in direction makes it hard for defensive teams coming off the line.”
Mitchell has scored 10 tries in the Premiership this season, more than any other scrum-half and four ahead of his closest challengers, Danny Care and Nick Phipps.
“For teams to play well and guys to get recognition, a lot of things need to happen,” said Boyd. “If you do not get the carry and the delivery right, there is no quick ball for Alex. The extra-half second he can give you can give the likes of Fraser Dingwall the chance to get around someone or through a hole.
“When you have an outside-half like Marcus Smith, you want to get the ball into his hands as quickly as possible. If you have a 9 and a 10 as a running threat, it is a beautiful thing to be a midfielder. If you don't, you do not threaten the defensive line.
“Mitch was dead against Bath last month and I should have taken him off, but you are reluctant to do that when you are chasing a game because he so often turns nothing into something. He is very similar to Jamison, a great lad I'm pleased to see doing so well.”
Five of the Northampton players in the England squad had not achieved recognition before Boyd's arrival, Courtney Lawes being the exception. “There was interest in a couple more, but they did not quite make it or had injuries,” he said. “It is really good for the club, although it can be problematic when you lose a number of guys in a training week.
“Next year's programme will be congested when you look at the extended November international window. I reckon England players will only be available for 50 per cent of club matches, which is tough from an availability point of view and financially because their wages are paid while they are away.
“The obligation of Premiership clubs is to produce players for the international game. The pointy edge of rugby is the Test scene and if you lose sight of that and the club game becomes more important, you get a totally different feel.”
