3. Scrum Half: Ben Youngs vs Alex Mitchell – Leicester Tigers vs Northampton Saints
Onto the East Midlands derby now, with the old and new guards of the England number nine jersey set to do battle at Welford Road. After hanging up his test match boots for international retirement, Ben Youngs walked away from Borthwick’s side after the Rugby World Cup, as England most-capped men’s player. Young’s club commitments are his sole duties, as he approaches the latter stages of his generational 17-year career with Leicester Tigers.
Youngs was right back into the fold, as Leicester suffered a narrow defeat to Harlequins last weekend. Youngs will likely run out against the Saints ahead of promising halfback Harry Simmons, with Jack van Poortvliet’s earliest return from injury expected in the new year. JVP’s Rugby World Cup dreams were shattered in the Summer, as his severe ankle injury wrote him out of the entire competition, and opened a late door for Alex Mitchell’s inclusion.
Mitchell was fast-tracked to first choice in the England nine jersey for the World Cup, and will eye up this ‘mano a mano’ test with Ben Youngs as a chance to further stake his claim on the shirt. Northampton enter the derby day on hot form, with three consecutive wins polarising the recent run of their lowly East Midland’s opponents. Mitchell will be barking orders to his men, and calling out any illegal activity to the referee of the day. Saturday’s match could witness a metaphoric ‘passing of the torch’, should Mitchell get the upper hand on the former England stalwart.
4. Fly Half: Marcus Smith vs Owen Farrell – Harlequins vs Saracens
A star-studded key battle is set to ensue in Saturday’s London derby at the Twickenham Stoop, as Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell lead their back-lines in the hotly anticipated clash. Despite not featuring under the Saracens’ trademarked ‘Show-Down’ moniker, this battle is certainly just that, as Smith is eager to showcase his talents back at his favoured fly-half position.
Steve Borthwick converted Smith to fullback for the Rugby World Cup, with Owen Farrell and Sale Sharks’ George Ford preferred to reinforce the fly half ranks. Smith’s Harlequins halfback partner Danny Care spoke in the pre-match media about how Smith wants to play at fly half for England. A strong showing at the expense of the England captain would certainly raise Smith’s claims for national team’s 10 jersey, for the 2024 Six Nations.
Farrell returned to Saracens two weeks ago, in his side’s 32-17 win over Leicester Tigers at the Stone X. Despite excelling from the kicking tee with 12 points for Sarries, Farrell’s defensive technique was put under the microscope. Farrell was hit when trying to clear his lines, with the spilt ball resulting in a Leicester try. Following this, Farrell went too high in a tackle attempt on Jamie Shillcock, with the new Tigers arrival fending off the fly half on his way through to score a nice solo try. As England enter a new Rugby World Cup cycle, both Farrell and Smith are looking to solidify their claims for future involvement in Borthwick’s side.
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