Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Clubs issue latest Alex Mitchell, George Ford England fitness update

By PA
George Ford and Alex Mitchell with England at last year's Rugby World Cup in France (Photo by Michael Steele/World Rugby via Getty Images)

The availability of England scrum-half Alex Mitchell for the Autumn Nations Series looks under increasing threat as he continues his battle to overcome a neck problem. Northampton boss Phil Dowson explained on Tuesday that Mitchell is “improving very slowly”, but he has not played this season and there appears no immediate prospect of him returning to action.

ADVERTISEMENT

England kick off their autumn campaign against New Zealand on November 2, followed by appointments with Australia, South Africa and Japan. Mitchell, who has won 18 caps, is currently England’s clear first-choice number nine.

National team head coach Steve Borthwick announces his autumn squad on Wednesday, with Bath captain Ben Spencer, who provided bench cover for Mitchell during both summer Tests against the All Blacks, Bristol’s Harry Randall and Leicester scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet all set to be included.

Video Spacer

WATCH: Chasing the Sun Season 2 Trailer | RPTV

The brilliant Chasing the Sun 2, charting the inspiring story of the Springboks at Rugby World Cup 2023, can be watched on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

Video Spacer

WATCH: Chasing the Sun Season 2 Trailer | RPTV

The brilliant Chasing the Sun 2, charting the inspiring story of the Springboks at Rugby World Cup 2023, can be watched on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

“He [Mitchell] had an injection and we are waiting to see how effective that has been,” Dowson said. “So as frustrating as it is, and there are lots of questions around it, there isn’t a definitive timeline because people are reticent to do anything more invasive. So basically, a conservative approach is the best approach.

“Unfortunately, that is one without a timeline. We are sort of sat on our hands a little bit, waiting to see how he is. He is improving, but he is improving very slowly, and it is how we can accelerate that process without risking anything from a long-term point of view.

Fixture
Internationals
England
22 - 24
Full-time
New Zealand
All Stats and Data

“I want to make sure that he is not stressed about it, which he doesn’t seem to be. He is a bit frustrated, but we want to make sure we do the right thing by him personally.”

Borthwick now has the final say on all medical and sport science matters affecting those England players given ‘hybrid contracts’. As part of an eight-year professional game partnership announced last month by the Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby and Rugby Players’ Association, Borthwick will have freedom to select up to 25 players who will be paid as much as £160,000 annually in return for greater control of how they are managed on club duty, which includes deciding on medical issues such as when a player undergoes surgery.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dowson added: “The (England) medics might want to have a look at him, so they might call him in and they might do that on an ad hoc basis or they might do that formally. That’s really up to Steve. The fact he hasn’t played for quite a period of time, and it is very slow, I can’t see that turning around in the short term.

“But at the same time they might want to monitor him, they might want to keep him close to the group, they might want to have him ready in there as Joe El-Abd (new defence coach) comes in and there is a change from a coaching point of view to make sure he is up to speed.

“So there are loads of reasons why I would see him in there, and I could also see why they would potentially give him time to stay at home. That’s a decision for Steve. The medics have been in constant communication and they have got the note-taking system so they can see what treatment he has had, when he has had it, what the specialist has said, what the scans say. They are aware of all the information like we are and, like we are, are waiting to see the best route moving forward really.”

Sale fly-half George Ford, meanwhile, is continuing his recovery from a torn thigh muscle and could be fit ahead of the autumn games. Ford was injured during Sale’s Gallagher Premiership defeat at Saracens in late September, although surgery was subsequently not required.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sharks rugby director Alex Sanderson said that Ford will not be available for the Premiership encounter against Northampton on Friday, but he is set to train next week.

Related

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

1 Comment
B
Bull Shark 30 days ago

Borthwick now has the final say on all medical and sport science matters affecting those Englans players given ‘hybrid contracts’.


which includes deciding on medical issues such as when a player undergoes surgery.


If I was a player I’d tell him to FRO!

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

H
Hellhound 39 minutes ago
The 'one difference' between Boks and the back-to-back All Blacks

I mean overall talent, not that they will all play 20 years. That is impossible with rugby. The younger players like Elrigh is of course not world class yet. With more experience they will become world class. They are already exceptional players. Not even Eben and the current boys was world class when they started. They were exceptional yes, but not world class. Only experience brings that.


Generational players is very few and far inbetween who is world class from the off. The younger players can only become world class with the proper training and experience isn't something that can be bought. It's something they have to earn through their careers.


As for SRP being a good competition, I disagree. It's slanted in NZ favour and always has been. It's not what it used to be. The URC is now rated as the top club competition in the world next to the top 14 outside of the CC, and I didn't make up that rankings. You feel SRP is better because of our bias towards the NH, but it simply is not.


Yes, I don't know all the young Bucs of NZ coming through, but most of those you named I've seen and they are very good players but not exceptional nor world class. Just as with SA youngsters, that is something that will come with experience and they will become world class and is definitely the future for them.


NZ and Australia don't have the player pool depth that SA have. NZ's are bigger than most, but then most of their stars came from the Island nations like Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. If you count them, then maybe yes, they have as big a pool.


NZ will always be a top 3 team, as will SA. At least for the next 2 decades. That doesn't mean that other countries don't have some world class youngsters coming through either.


I don't claim that SA will win everything for the next 20 years. Nor that they will win the next 5 WC's. A lot depends on players, coaches, law changes and how the game keeps changing. There is too much variables. SA do have a bright future for the next 20 years , players who will hold the flag high. Same with NZ.


Nothing and no one can stop the Rivalry. I know the Irish is trying to replace the Boks with themselves as the main rivals. Everyone tunes in to watch the Boks vs AB's, all over the world. Every year. That is the most anticipated Tests by everyone every year.

79 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ 'Who gives a crap?' Animosity towards the Springboks is proof of their dominance 'Who gives a crap?' Animosity towards the Springboks is proof of their dominance
Search