Seb Atkinson: Centre on decade-long relationship with England team-mate Fin Smith
England center Seb Atkinson says his youth fly-half hopes have been dashed by Fin Smith, whom he will start against Italy on Saturday.
The pair, both 23, were drafted in as part of a wholesale reshuffle to a team that had lost two of its first three games in the Six Nations.
Atkinson and Smith came through the Worcester Warriors academy and featured in the first team together for a brief period in the 2021-22 season.
“We started playing together when we were 13,” Atkinson told Rugby Union Weekly.
“I was a complete slob back then, but that didn’t last long because Fin was better than me!
“I had to learn a few other skills, which pushed me to 12.
“We went through the whole system together and I made my Premiership debut and apart from that I made my first Premiership start, which was quite a relief.”
When Worcester went into administration in the autumn of 2022, both received new clubs soon after, with Atkinson leaving for Gloucester and Smith being signed by Northampton.
Despite no longer being in the same club dressing room, Atkinson says their relationship remains strong and will be something he counts on when they come under pressure at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.
“He’s easy to talk to, someone I know I can ask questions, get ideas from, and tell each other what we expect from each other,” Atkinson added.
“You need to have these conversations before the game so you know subconsciously what will happen in the game.
“It’s definitely a big thing to have that kind of bond and a little bit of calm between you two, so hopefully it gives us a good opportunity.”
Head coach Steve Borthwick acknowledged that the shared background of his Nos. 10 and 12 players was a factor in a selection lacking established Test and club combinations, adding that Atkinson had an all-round game.
“He’s a really good distributor of the ball, sees the floor and can get the ball into space,” Borthwick said.
“On top of that, he also has the carry threat and his running ability to cover ground is outstanding. He has a lot of strengths.”
