English scrum-half Alex Mitchell is backing his teammate Fin Smith to win his upcoming clash with Finn Russell when Northampton face Bath in the Gallagher Premiership final at the weekend. The action of the two number 10s and the goalkeeper will be an important part of Saturday’s game, and Mitchell believes the younger Smith has all the tools to get to the top.
Mitchell, 27, will have his hands full against Bath’s captain Ben Spencer, but after the Saints’ semi-final win over defending champions Saracens, he believes Smith, 22, is up there with Russell as the key pressure.
“Fin surpriseed me in terms of his quality in all aspects of the game,” said Mitchell, who has now established himself as England’s number 9 first-choice.
“He’s been great this season. It’s mental to think about how young he is, but he still leads the guys. He really leads the team. He has such a calm head for such a little boy. It was fantastic, not only on the field, but also outside. He has really integrated into the team and all the boys love him.”
However, Northampton remain aware of the tactical influence that Russell and Spencer can exert on games, whether with the ball in hand or through their kicking game.
“Because Finn Russell is such a great character and such a great name, Spencer may have gone a bit under the radar,” said Phil Dowson, Northampton’s director of rugby. “They have a great power play, a very solid play piece, great drivers and these two in the middle pull the strings and get them on the field.”
However, with a sell-out crowd at Twickenham, the Saints are keen to ensure a decent start for their experienced trio of Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam and Alex Waller, all of whom are leaving the club. “We’ve had a lot of emotions in the last few weeks,” Mitchell said. “They are club legends and we want to send them with cutlery. Everyone appreciates that this is the last dance … we know it’s a big deal.”
For his part, Mitchell was inspired by his French vis-à-vis Antoine Dupont, currently the best scrum-half in the world and winner of the Toulouse match in the Champions Cup final against Leinster last month. “I’ve seen the highlights of this game and he’s been world-class,” said Mitchell, who will play against the All Blacks on England’s upcoming summer tour.
“He still made a few mistakes, but the way he came back and made that crucial cover tackle shows that you can make mistakes and still play incredibly well. It gives you confidence when a player of this type can do what he does.
“He is one of the best in the world and if he continues to do what he is doing, he will be one of the best of all time. It’s great to have someone like him in your place, to watch what he’s doing, and to try to be like that.”