Alex Mitchell’s one-game wonder

Northampton Saints scrum-half Alex Mitchell was given a big boost to the ego on the eve of his team’s Champions Cup kick-off against Racing, scooping the Premiership Player of the Month gong.

And that despite playing only one match throughout the whole of November. Mitchell gave an accomplished performance in Northampton’s bullish victory over Bristol, giving three assists and thus becoming the most ‘involved’ player in try-scoring moves for any team in the league, with eight assists and four scores of his own.

Honoured

“I’m hugely honoured to win that award,” Mitchell said to the Northampton Chronicle.

“I was shocked when I got nominated and now winning it is obviously quite weird but I’m obviously very happy.

“There were only two Premiership games in the month and I only played in one of them because I was away with England.

“I feel like I’ve been playing well but not to my full potential yet so it’s a great sign and hopefully I can push and keep getting better.”

With an England debut also to his name in November, this recognition and several words of praise from his coaching staff, it would appear England now have a new half-back option to fall back on ahead of a Six Nations which will be an early marker of form and talent for the next World Cup.

“I try to work on my all-round game,” said Mitchell.

“There’s not one thing I look into much – I just try not to overthink it and to be natural with stuff.

“It’s one thing I like to do, to fix defenders and put people away – when you’ve got such good players inside and outside you, it obviously makes things a lot easier.

“Their (Northampton’s) communication across the board is outstanding and little things like that make a big difference.

“Previously when I’ve gone away to camps, I’ve struggled just to get back into the mix of things and that’s one thing I’m getting better at.

“I’m coming back, learning the moves and not stop-starting the season is a big thing for me. It’s helping my consistency.”

Which he will need on Friday as Northampton welcome one of Europe’s royalty to the Gardens, a stage on which Mitchell can continue to further his claim for an England spot.

“It is weird because there’s not many fixtures in the pool stages now (Saints play four) and we know Racing at home is a massive one for us,” he said about the game.

“We know if we lose this we’re going to be chasing the pack and chasing that top-two spot. We know we’re going to have to start pretty early.”