Matt Dawson believes that England need to find their own answer to France’s scrum-half Antoine Dupont as they begin building towards the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France

A mixed start to the Six Nations saw England lose their opening match 24-17 in France before securing a 13-6 triumph over Scotland in horrific conditions at Murrayfield, while Dupont has starred in both victories for Les Bleus as they keep hopes of a Grand Slam alive.

The 2003 World Cup winner backed current pair Willi Heinz and Ben Youngs to continue in the shirt short-term, but admitted England and coach Eddie Jones needed to unearth a new option in time for the 2023 World Cup in France.

Dawson, in his capacity as an ambassador for Sodexo, said: ‘France have found themselves a general, there is no question about that and at the moment he is, in the Six Nations, head and shoulders above everyone else.

Dawson, speaking at the University of Nottingham’s David Ross Sports Village as an ambassador for Sodexo, said: ‘The other nines will be looking at him saying yes how can we combat him but how can we learn from him to get better.

‘England demand a different style of scrum half, but I would like to think in the next couple of years there will be a younger option emerge.

‘If Willi and Ben are fit and strong and sharp enough to be playing then fine, but if not there needs to be a young player ready to step up.’

Dawson is convinced that head coach Eddie Jones will use the time between now and the next global tournament to experiment with a variety of options in the No 9 role.

The seven-time British & Irish Lion also called for Saracens’ 27-year-old scrum-half Ben Spencer to be given another opportunity having won just three caps since his debut in 2018 – one of which came as a replacement in last year’s World Cup final defeat by South Africa.

Dawson added: ‘I will be truly amazed if Ben and Willi are the only ones to wear the shirt over the next four years.

‘I want to see Ben Spencer given another chance I want to see Mitchell picked, but at the moment Willi and Ben are the best two English qualified scrum halves in the country

‘I’m still not convinced we have seen the last of Spencer, fingers crossed Eddie Jones communicates to him what he needs from him in the game and hopefully he gains more confidence and experience.’

Having helped change the game after coming on with 20 minutes to go in Edinburgh, Dawson believes 95-cap Youngs has demonstrated his enduring quality.

Dawson said: ‘It is tough but that may have been reflective of the way he got dropped against Scotland I don’t know, but you saw when he came off the bench to boss the game, which is ingrained in him tactically and technically. He is still a class player.' 

As an ambassador for Sodexo, Matt Dawson has been an advisor on menus and sports nutrition for the University of Nottingham’s £40 million David Ross Sports Village complex. 

His visit is part of a series of events to mark the University of Nottingham’s rugby centenary.