England centre Seb Atkinson says his teenage fly-half hopes were frustrated by Fin Smith, the man he will line up outside against Italy on Saturday.
The pair, both 23, have been drafted in as part of wholesale changes to a team that has lost two of its first three games in the Six Nations.
Atkinson and Smith came through Worcester Warriors academy and briefly appeared in the first team together during the 2021-22 season.
“We started playing together when we were 13,” Atkinson told Rugby Union Weekly.
“I was a fly-half at the time, which didn’t last long because Fin was better than me!
“I had to learn a few other skills, which pushed me out to 12.
“We went through the whole system together and I made my Premiership debut and my first Premiership start outside him, which was quite comforting.”
When Worcester went into administration in autumn 2022, both soon picked up new clubs with Atkinson heading to Gloucester and Smith signed by Northampton.
Atkinson says their relationship remains strong despite no longer being in the same club dressing room – and it will be something he leans on when they come under pressure in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.
“He’s easy to talk to, someone who I know I can ask questions to and pick his brains and also tell each other what our expectations are of each other,” added Atkinson.
“You need to have those conversations before the game so that in the game you sort of know subconsciously what’s going to happen.
“Just having that sort of that link and a bit of composure between the two of you is definitely a big thing, so hopefully that gives us a good opportunity.”
Head coach Steve Borthwick admitted the shared history of his 10 and 12 was a factor in a selection that lacks established Test and club combinations, and added Atkinson has an under-rated all-round game.
“He is a really good distributor of the ball, he sees space and is able to get the ball to space,” said Borthwick.
“As well as that, he has that carry threat and his running ability to cover ground is exceptional. He has multiple strengths.”