Mitchell ‘excited’ after whirlwind summer season results in England probability
The Northampton star spent six weeks out of the England image over the pre-season coaching run, as boss Steve Borthwick rated him as fourth alternative scrum-half.
While rivals Jack Van Poortvliet, Danny Care and Ben Youngs had been grafting away in England’s World Cup camp, Mitchell even spent one week on vacation in Croatia.
Even when Van Poortvliet suffered an ankle damage and Mitchell was drafted again into the squad on August 14, the 26-year-old nonetheless remained a long-shot to leapfrog each Youngs and Care.
Now, although, the strike working 9 has accomplished precisely that, and can line up alongside George Ford in England’s half-backs in Saturday’s Pool D opener towards the Pumas at Stade Velodrome.
“For me it has been a bit of a rollercoaster, hasn’t it?” mentioned Mitchell.
“Obviously out of the squad and now back in and getting a shot tomorrow.
“I am just massively excited at getting an opportunity to play and put my hand up. I am looking forward to that.
“It has been a bit weird but; I’m excited.”
If Mitchell’s World Cup hopes had been dashed then restored throughout a turbulent summer season, now he has the possibility to understand his lifelong ambition.
Asked to sum up the magnitude of his World Cup debut, Mitchell mentioned: “It’s massive. As a kid it’s the thing to dream of, playing at the top of the game.
“So, to start the first World Cup match is a massive honour. My family are massively proud of me.
“So, really looking forward to it and hopefully we can get a result.”
When Borthwick instructed Mitchell he was initially minimize from the World Cup squad, the England boss urged the Saints man to remain sharp in case of damage.
Mitchell stored himself alert, and now’s glad he did.
“It was a pretty positive conversation, it was ‘you’re not far off’,” mentioned Mitchell.
“There was a lot of competition in my position so he just wanted me to go back to my club, still work on my game and still stay fit, because anything can happen, and be ready.
“That’s the conversation I had, so that’s what I did. I stayed fit, and stayed ready then got called to come in. I trained hard and tried to put my hand up again.”
Mitchell will seize the scrum-half shirt with the goal to super-charge England’s pace of assault.
“I’ve got to try to control the game, get the team to tick and when I can imprint some tempo into the side, I’ll try to do that, and again, stick to the gameplan.
“We know we’re a good side when we play well and stick to our style of play.
“The main thing is to do that and bring our X-factor alive after that, if you can.”