Alex Mitchell Explains George Ford's Costly Blocked Drop Goal in Calcutta Cup Defeat
England scrum half Alex Mitchell has defended the decision of fly half George Ford to attempt a drop goal in a pivotal moment during the Calcutta Cup match against Scotland. The attempt, which occurred with England trailing by 11 points, was blocked by Scotland's Matt Fagerson, who then set up Huw Jones for a crucial try. This resulted in a significant 10-point swing in Scotland's favour, ultimately contributing to England's defeat and ending their impressive run of 12 consecutive victories.
Mitchell's Perspective on the Controversial Decision
Mitchell, Ford's half-back partner, provided insight into the reasoning behind the drop goal attempt. He explained that with England struggling to penetrate Scotland's robust defence in the home 22, and with the Scottish side effectively slowing down the ball, the drop goal was seen as a viable tactical option. "I think it's always a call we look for in the 22, in the red zone especially," Mitchell stated. "[Scotland were] slowing the ball down, they did a fantastic job in that area, we couldn't get the speed of ball. A lot of the time the defence is on top."
He further elaborated that dropping into the pocket for a drop goal or a kick in the air is a standard tactic in such situations. "It's definitely a tactic to go to, drop it in the pocket and go into the drop goal or go into a kick in the air. But today it just didn't go our way. That's obviously frustrating. [Ford] is normally fantastic at that. But today it just didn't work out." Ford, an experienced No 10, has a history of successful drop goals in key matches, including twice against New Zealand in November, making this outcome particularly disappointing for the team.
Impact on England's Six Nations Campaign
The defeat in Edinburgh dealt a major blow to England's Six Nations title hopes under coach Steve Borthwick. The loss not only halted their winning streak but also set a challenging path ahead. England must now prepare for a crucial round three match against Ireland at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium, followed by a final weekend visit to Paris to face tournament favourites France.
Borthwick acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming fixtures, particularly highlighting the strength of the Irish team. "Ireland are an incredible team," he said. "They've got such enormous amounts of talent. How many starting British and Irish Lions they have on their team? And the whole British and Irish Lions coaching team. They play together so often, given the Leinster influence and only coming from a limited number of teams. They're a very good team. They've been at the top of the world rankings for a long period of time."
Team Updates and Future Prospects
In other team news, full-back George Furbank and prop Vilikesa Sela have been restored to Borthwick's squad after spending last week in rehabilitation. Their return could provide additional options for selection as England seeks to rebound from this setback. The focus now shifts to regrouping and addressing the tactical errors that led to the costly moment in the Calcutta Cup, with the aim of reviving their Six Nations aspirations in the matches to come.
