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England handed Alex Mitchell boost ahead of Ireland clash
By PA
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.
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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.
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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.
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Spencer, Randall and Raffi Quirke are competing to provide scrum-half cover from the bench with Van Poortvliet ruled out against Ireland though injury.
Mitchell is expected to be paired alongside Marcus Smith at half-back with the Harlequins playmaker likely to continue where he left off in the autumn by pulling the strings at 10.
Smith was England’s most inventive player throughout November but there were misgivings over his ability to release his backline – a skill that has been displayed by his chief rival for the jersey Fin Smith.
Fin Smith is likely to be picked on the bench with Freddie Steward present at full-back in the absence of George Furbank, who has a fractured arm.
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The trip to Dublin will be the first time England have been led by Maro Itoje after the Saracens second row was chosen as captain for the Six Nations in place of Jamie George.
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We can't beat Ireland without Mitchell. He's head and shoulders the best 9 in the country and England desperately need him back.
England can't beat Ireland with Marcus Smith at 10. Borthwick's stubbornness in continuing to select England's third (or fourth?) best fly-half is a much bigger concern than Mitchell's fitness.