Steve Borthwick's strategic use of his bench during England's victory over France was crucial, particularly his decision to keep scrum-half Alex Mitchell on the field for the entire match. This marked a significant departure from previous games where the position was rotated among players. Mitchell’s presence proved vital in navigating the game’s final moments, aiding teammate Fin Smith. Mitchell expressed his joy at contributing to the win, especially after recovering from injury and missing earlier matches, going on to appreciate the experience of playing in front of a large crowd again.
Having him out there with me made a massive difference. It was needed, wasn't it? I think the last five, six games we've come really close and just not got the right side of a result, now we've finally done that.
Mitchell says that in an odd way it has helped that he missed all four autumn Tests, including the three narrow defeats by Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, because it meant he felt like he was able to bring impetus to the team.
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