Will Greenwood’s verdict on the England scrum-half battle as he picks the ‘consistently outstanding’ option who can hurt the All Blacks
Former England centre Will Greenwood and scrum-half option Ben Spencer.
Former England back Will Greenwood believes that Ben Spencer is the player to solve Steve Borthwick’s conundrum at scrum-half.
The Red Rose boss is currently looking for his next number nine with first choice half-back Alex Mitchell missing the November campaign due to a neck issue.
That means Spencer, Jack van Poortvliet and Harry Randall, who have all been named in the wider training squad, will be competing for a spot in the XV.
The Bath star has arguably been the form player over the past two years but his chances have been limited at Test level. He has also struggled in those cameo appearances off the bench, failing against Scotland in the Six Nations and against the All Blacks in July.
Starting against the All Blacks
Greenwood has backed him to start in the rematch with New Zealand, however, as England kick off their end-of-year series this weekend.
“Spencer to start, there’s not enough in Van Poortvliet’s locker just yet. I still think they will view Harry Randall as a number 21 at best,” he told The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast.
“I think the guy who’s been consistently outstanding is Spencer. I am genuinely unsure as to why he’s had so few caps.”
Van Poortvliet, who played under Borthwick at Leicester Tigers, appeared to be the favoured option heading into the 2023 Rugby World Cup before a serious injury ruled him out of the tournament.
The 23-year-old has since returned to action with Leicester following that setback and some wonder whether he will be parachuted into the starting XV for the All Blacks clash.
Greenwood hopes that is not the case, though, and reckons Mitchell’s injury can open the Test door for Spencer just like Van Poortvliet’s ankle issue did for the Northampton Saints playmaker.
“Spencer can really play,” he said. “Honestly, he’s probably at the top of my list over the past three or four years of, ‘how has he not played more times for England?’
“Remember, Steve didn’t even pick Mitchell for the World Cup, he wasn’t one of his best three scrum-halves. It was because Jack did his ankle against Wales in August 2023 – sport and sliding door moments.”
Attacking threat
Mitchell brought tempo and a real threat around the fringes to England’s game and the question is whether Spencer can do the same.
The 32-year-old is exceptional with the boot and kicks off both feet, but there are concerns as to whether he fits into this ‘new’ Red Rose style.
Greenwood believes that he does, however, and interestingly compared him to Dan Cole, who continues to be a key cog for England.
“I believe Spencer can do that as well, he can play that style, he does play that style. His kicking game is outstanding and therefore it’s like saying Dan Cole can only scrummage.
“Amazingly, he’s (Cole) reinvigorated himself, like Benjamin Button, he does a little more [around the field].”