Northampton’s Fly-Half Fin Smith Poised to Shine in Gallagher Premiership Final
Northampton Saints scrum-half Alex Mitchell has warned Bath that his team has a fly-half magician of their own capable of lighting up the Gallagher Premiership final at Twickenham this Saturday.
The highly anticipated showdown will see Bath’s £1 million Scottish playmaker Finn Russell go head-to-head with Northampton’s rising England fly-half Fin Smith in front of a sell-out crowd of 82,000.
While Russell’s world-class attacking prowess is expected to be the main attraction, Mitchell insists that Northampton has a genuine match-winner in the number 10 jersey. “Fin has been awesome. He has been such a leader,” said the England and Saints scrum-half.
Mitchell expressed his surprise at how quickly the recently turned 22-year-old Smith has developed in his first full season at Franklin’s Gardens, leading to his international debut during the Guinness Six Nations.
“It’s mental to think how young he is and the way he bosses boys around, regardless if it’s Courtney Lawes or Alex Waller. He really does lead the squad. He has such a calm head on him for such a young lad. He has been fantastic,” Mitchell added.
The scrum-half’s own commanding display in last Friday’s play-off victory over Saracens, where he was named man of the match, has further cemented his status as one of the best nines in the game. However, even Mitchell finds it difficult to match the exploits of Toulouse and France star Antoine Dupont, who continues to set the bar exceptionally high.
“He is class and it’s nice to have someone like that to try to get after and try and do the things he is doing, which is amazing. He is one of the world’s best and if he carries on doing what he is doing he is going to be one of the best ever,” Mitchell said.
With the stage set for a thrilling Gallagher Premiership final, rugby enthusiasts will undoubtedly be eager to witness the battle between the experienced Finn Russell and the emerging Fin Smith, as Northampton look to clinch the title in front of a packed Twickenham crowd.
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