Potential Comeback for Smith and Mitchell in England’s Six Nations Campaign
According to head coach Steve Borthwick, Marcus Smith and Alex Mitchell could potentially rejoin England’s campaign for the final stages of the 2024 Six Nations tournament. Reigning injury concerns had cast uncertainties about their participation in the remainder of the high-stakes competition. However, Borthwick conveyed an optimistic assessment as England braces for challenging matches against Grand Slam contenders Ireland and France.
“I am positively hopeful that Marcus Smith will be available for selection in the latter part of the tournament and we have received encouraging news on Alex Mitchell’s injury as well; we anticipate his return during the latter stages,” said Borthwick.
Despite initial fears, both half-backs could make a comeback, presenting a selection dilemma for Borthwick after Danny Care and George Ford’s subpar performance against Scotland.
Smith previously departed from England’s training camp following a calf injury while accompanied by crutches, while Mitchell sustained a knee injury during an open training session. Neither were available for the recent Calcutta Cup matchup. England will face Ireland following training sessions held in York this week, embracing the opportunity to learn from defeat in order to overcome Ireland.
Confidence in the Existing Game Plan
England Number 8 Ben Earl expressed confidence in the existing game plan adopted by the squad, asserting that the team will not adopt a conservative approach or drastically alter the strategy before facing Ireland.
“We love how we play; I truly relished most elements of our last game, minus the scoreline. I deem it a brilliant Test match, hinging on such minute margins,” asserted Earl.
“We have two weeks to decipher strategies against the Irish. They are amongst the top two or three global teams; nonetheless, I wholeheartedly trust our squad leaders and coaching staff to find a solution to overcome them,” added Earl, exuding confidence in England’s ability to prevail.
The players and coaching staff anticipate England’s growth, reflecting on last year’s tournament performance, with improved execution for prolonged spells against formidable opponents. Consequently, expectations for England revolve around their potential to elevate their performance and achieve positive outcomes against formidable adversaries.
🔗 Source
