England have a ‘like for like’ replacement for Alex Mitchell as Bristol star’s ‘strength’ puts him at the front of queue
After talks with Steve Borthwick, Pat Lam believes that England have a perfect replacement for Alex Mitchell.
Bristol Bears boss Pat Lam believes that Steve Borthwick has a like-for-like replacement for injured England scrum-half Alex Mitchell.
Mitchell could miss the Autumn Nations Series due to a neck injury that he sustained in training with Northampton Saints.
The 27-year-old was initially overlooked for Borthwick’s Rugby World Cup squad last year but earned a call-up following the injury to Jack van Poortvliet. He made the most of his opportunity and became England’s first-choice number nine during the tournament which continued into 2024.
England scrum-half debate
Mitchell will continue his rehabilitation with the England squad during their three-day training camp this week while Borthwick has included scrum-halves Ben Spencer, Van Poortvliet and Randall.
If the Saints star is injured, then Bristol boss Lam believes that England have a perfect replacement with Randall, who toured with the team to New Zealand in July.
“I have a huge demand on our nines – they have to be the fastest on the park,” Lam said.
“One of the feedbacks from Steve was he wanted the nines to be quicker.
“100 per cent, Ben Spencer is a really good player, but his teams tend to kick more. Harry’s strength is his speed, his sniping and his ability to put teams under pressure.
“I saw that when I first watched him playing for Hartpury and thought ‘Who is this kid’? If they want a like-for-like for Mitchell, if he is out, then Harry’s that man.”
Lam’s comments came after the Bears defeated West Country rivals Bath in round three of the Premiership, with the result taking his team to the top of the table.
Bristol dominated the first half with Los Pumas flanker Santiago Grondona scoring two tries, while there were also touchdowns for full-back Max Malins, centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg and hooker Gabriel Oghre, with fly-half AJ MacGinty kicking four conversions and a penalty.
“The first year we got up from the Championship, everyone was talking about it (Bath versus Bristol), and you get the sense of the importance,” Lam added.
“We were disappointed last year when we lost 20-19 to them. I remember these games because that is how big they are.
“I think the most satisfying thing is we are predicted to finish down the bottom and Bath, with their squad and their season last year – Johann (van Graan) has done a brilliant job – are expected to win it.
“So for us to perform like that and play the way we did was pleasing. This game was always a big game for us, and particularly here.”
Title favourites Bath stunned as inspired Bristol Bears secure superb away-day victory
“We conceded too many points in the first-half” – Van Graan
Bath defeated Northampton and Leicester in their first two games of the new season but trailed 26-7 at half-time and they could find no real way into the contest despite tries from full-back Sam Harris, centres Will Butt and Ollie Lawrence and lock Ross Molony, while fly-half Finn Russell added three conversions.
Russell briefly threatened a fightback by orchestrating Bath’s best spell of the game, yet Bristol were always in the driving seat and claimed an impressive win on the road.
“We conceded too many points in the first-half, then got ourselves back in the game and unfortunately went down to 14 players and left ourselves too much to do at the back end of the game,” Bath head of rugby Van Graan said.
“We backed up some errors today. We were not at our best.
“The Premiership is a phenomenal competition, and anybody can beat anybody. If you are 90 per cent on your game you will get beaten, like we did today.”
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