The Japan Times - Mitchell backs Dingwall to be England rugby's answer to Rodri

Dingwall will win just his third cap -- and first in a year -- in Sunday's Six Nations clash against Italy at Twickenham after England head coach Borthwick dropped both Henry Slade and Marcus Smith from his back division.

Borthwick has described the Northampton midfielder as "the glue" that can hold England's back-line together as they go in search of a third straight win to put pressure on championship leaders Ireland.

And Mitchell, a club colleague of Dingwall at the Saints, the reigning Premiership rugby title-holders, believes he can have a similar impact to that made by Rodri, honoured as the world's best footballer, at Premier League football champions Manchester City.

"He is like a Rodri at Man City," Mitchell told reporters.

"He doesn't always get the great goals or the assists or whatever but he is a mainstay in your team and does all the great things. He is similar to that.

"He is a quality player, a lot of the time he goes unnoticed because he does his job so well for the team and makes other players look so good.

"He is like that glue guy -- he is fantastic."

Rodri, who starred in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, was a central figure in City winning a record four successive English titles and his absence through injury this season has been a key factor in the decline of Pep Guardiola's previously dominant team.

Dingwall has said his role is to pave the way for his team-mates, including four of his fellow Northampton backs, to star for England on Sunday, rather than be the headline act himself.

The 25-year-old's inclusion in the team named by Borthwick on Wednesday was a surprise given his lengthy international exile..

Dingwall made his Test debut in a narrow 27-24 win over Italy in Rome last February and kept his place the following week for the win over Wales, in which he scored his only England try to date. He was also a member of 10 international camps prior to making his England debut.

"He is very confident, he has been in the camps since his last time and he is great around the lads," said Mitchell of Dingwall.

"He is a great defensive leader, he is excited and has trained really well all week so he is ready to go."

T.Ikeda--JT