Alex Mitchell\u2019s decision to re-sign for Northampton Saints has been described as \u201cmassive\u201d by half-back partner Fin Smith, as the duo look to restore their club to the heights of the 2023\/24 Premiership-winning season.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Planet Rugby at the Pro Am Padel Tour in London on Tuesday, Smith highlighted the importance of Mitchell\u2019s contract extension on those around him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s massive,\u201d said the 23-year-old. \u201cHe\u2019s someone I spoke to a lot before I signed my deal as well. It was really important for me to know that if I was going to be at the club, he was going to be around as well.<\/p>\n
Great connection<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like we\u2019ve got a great connection on the pitch, and he\u2019s one of my best mates off the pitch as well. So, yeah, absolutely delighted. His signing means we\u2019re gonna have another couple of years, hopefully, playing together. So, really good news.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith and Mitchell have generated quite a partnership since the latter arrived at Franklin\u2019s Gardens in 2022. In both club and international colours, the duo have become one of the most consistent pairings in Europe, most notably guiding the young Northampton Saints team of 2023\/24 to Premiership glory for the first time in 10 years, and only the second time in the club\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a massive part of everything we do at Saints,\u201d continued Smith. \u201cHe really gets our attack going. I don\u2019t know how people still fall for the dummy, but he still gets some of the boys in training every now and again.<\/p>\n
Fin Smith not \u2018naive\u2019 as he opens up about \u2018ongoing\u2019 Steve Borthwick conversations and names his hardest hitting opponent<\/a><\/p>\n British and Irish Lions star reveals \u2018little things\u2019 that helped him \u2018see the game differently\u2019 after tour<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s such a handful, and he\u2019s probably added to that a real level of maturity around his game management over the last few years. I\u2019m so happy to be part of the axis with him, and really happy he\u2019s staying around.\u201d<\/p>\n Former England great Danny Care<\/a> was also full of praise for the 28-year-old scrum half, saying: \u201cIt\u2019s great news for Northampton<\/a>, for England, and for Alex Mitchell<\/a> himself.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s at the perfect club for him. He\u2019s with his boys and a great young group of English lads. He\u2019s a wonderful rugby player and made that England number nine shirt his own.\u201d<\/p>\n Game recognise game<\/p>\n From one-star scrum-half to another, Care explained what makes Mitchell so special.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone sees the tempo he plays at,\u201d said the 38-year-old. \u201cHe plays faster than any other nine in the league, probably across Europe.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I love about him is that he\u2019s fearless and he backs himself. He doesn\u2019t overthink things too much, which is the one bit of advice I try and give to any young nine, just back yourself. If it\u2019s on to go, you go. If it\u2019s on to pass, pass, don\u2019t double-think yourself. So he\u2019s the best example of that, and he\u2019s always a threat off the line. So he\u2019s got the all-court game.\u201d<\/p>\n