Alex Mitchell has once again turned to an unexpected footballing comparison when describing the influence of his halfback partner George Ford, likening the England fly-half to Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri.
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Mitchell previously used the same analogy during the 2025 Six Nations when speaking about Northampton Saints and England inside centre Fraser Dingwall, highlighting the importance of understated players who keep teams functioning at the highest level.
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England open their 2026 Six Nations campaign this Saturday against Wales at Allianz Stadium, with Mitchell starting at scrum-half alongside Sale Sharks’ Ford, while Dingwall lines up at inside centre. It is a combination that has become increasingly familiar and appears to be Steve Borthwick’s preferred playmaking trio for major Test matches.
Rodri, widely regarded as one of the most complete midfielders in world football, is known for his physical presence, standing tall and strong in the centre of the pitch. His attributes allow him to consistently win tackles, physical contests and aerial duels.
The Spaniard’s game is defined by his tactical intelligence and versatility. He plays a crucial role in build-up phases, dictating tempo and providing balance rather than chasing the spotlight. Although not renowned for explosive pace, he often has the ability to recover ground against quicker midfielders through intelligent positioning and anticipation. His influence was formally recognised when he won the 2024 Ballon d’Or, capping a season of consistently elite performances.
Mitchell believes Ford – much like Dingwall – fills a comparable role within the England setup, providing structure, control and cohesion rather than highlight-reel moments.
“Probably similar to someone like Rodri as well, it’s very similar to Dingers, [he] gets the team to tick and probably doesn’t always do some of the most highlight stuff or most X factor things but behind the scenes, the players within the squad know how important these players are. I think Dingers was a bit annoyed that I called him Rodri. I think he’d just won the Ballon D’or at the time. Players like that who are obviously quality and are the glue of the team are massive.”
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