Mitchell targets surprise Prem final return as Northampton chase second title in three years

Alex Mitchell could feature in Northampton’s Gallagher Premiership final against Exeter at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, with director of rugby Phil Dowson giving the England scrum-half until Friday morning to prove his fitness before the squad is announced at midday.

Mitchell was widely expected to miss the remainder of the club season after pulling his hamstring during an England training camp last month, with his return pencilled in for the summer tour opener against South Africa on 4 July. Saints were left frustrated at losing their first-choice nine during an international camp that fell at the most critical point of the domestic calendar.

“There is a chance — I would hate to say whether it is good or bad,” Dowson said. “We have got to make sure we get the balance right so that if Alex does get involved he can do enough minutes to cover us off. And there is Tom James and Weimann as well, who have been excellent.”

Mitchell’s absence has been partially offset by the outstanding form of 21-year-old rookie Archie McParland, and Dowson has not ruled out deploying both half-backs at Allianz Stadium.

A Northampton victory would deliver a second Premiership title in three years and cement Saints’ standing as English rugby’s dominant club of the mid-2020s. Standing in their way is an Exeter side that demonstrated its resilience last Saturday, coming from behind to edge Bath 27-26 at the Recreation Ground after withstanding 40 phases of late pressure.

Dowson has considerable respect for what Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter has built. “I knew about the character of Exeter’s group from the first game at Franklin’s Gardens when we were 33-7 up and they came back and drew the game,” he said. “Their recruitment has been excellent — Tom Hooper, Len Ikitau — and they’ve had a big impact. Rob’s experience as well. I’ve a huge amount of respect for the environment he has put together.”

The final will also mark George Furbank’s last appearance for Northampton before he joins Harlequins next season. The club captain is adamant Saints must play to their strengths rather than retreat into a conservative final-day mindset.

“We want to go out and just attack this game,” Furbank said. “Often in finals you can play within yourselves and play a bit safe. I don’t think we’re a good team when we do that. So for us it’s about going and expressing ourselves, attacking the game and performing the way that we want to perform.”