Marcus Smith has been the starting 10 in every one of England’s last seven Tests and it seems that Steve Borthwick has wisely concluded that now is not the time to change that arrangement.
Ireland in Dublin at the start of the Six Nations is not the occasion to rip up the creative hub of the national team and thrust a relatively inexperienced playmaker in for his first start at fly-half. That red-letter day will come soon enough for the impressive Fin Smith, but not on Saturday; not with all the other disruption and not with so much at stake.
With Alex Mitchell fit to return to action after being absent in the autumn, the scrum-half will be pitched straight back into the nine shirt. There may have been an argument for uniting Mitchell with the new Smith on the block, his Saints half-back partner, but he and magic Marcus are a familiar Test double-act too and they should quickly re-establish a productive connection.
England are adapting to a number of enforced changes. George Furbank is still on the mend after fracturing his arm, so Freddie Steward is set to be restored at full back. That is his kingdom and the flying Tiger is well equipped to withstand the suffocating tension of a momentous showdown with the title holders on the opening weekend.
The loss of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is another key factor. The Exeter wing was not only a prolific threat in attack for Borthwick’s side last year, he was also a prime defensive asset.
According to experts, part of the reason why the blitz system unravelled in November was because the Chief suffered another setback which deprived the national team of someone so adept at chasing back and hitting with gusto and spatial awareness.
Marcus Smith (above) is set to start England’s Six Nations campaign at No 10 against Ireland
The 25-year-old has still all the tools to be England’s best fly-half despite growing competition
It is not the right time to thrust Fin Smith (right) – a relatively inexperienced playmaker at international level – in for his first start at fly-half against the defending Six Nations champions
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Whether his place out wide goes to Ollie Sleightholme, Tom Roebuck or even to Elliot Daly, it is another enforced alteration behind the scrum. With that in mind, it adds to the sense that opting to bring in a new attack leader would be a bold call and perhaps a reckless one.
It is worth reiterating that Marcus Smith played well in the autumn campaign; very well. That verdict seems to have become lost in translation during the last couple of months, but it is a fair summary. It is not the fault of the dashing Quin that England lost three of those four matches. He was at the heart of so many of the embattled hosts’ finest moments.
Against New Zealand, it was his interception and break, followed by a shrewd, delayed pass, which sent Feyi-Waboso away for a blockbuster try. Two weeks later, he caught the mighty Springboks off guard when he shaped for a drop goal but then darted to the blindside instead and created the space for Ollie Sleightholme to go over in the corner.
It is a strange aspect of the narrative around English – or British – rugby, that a creative genius of this type is often cast as a ‘maverick’, as if they should not be trusted. Danny Cipriani had years of that soundtrack and the great Scot, Finn Russell, was similarly categorised for so long, before eventually winning over the doubters and doom-mongers, who highlighted his lapses far more than his regular brilliance.
The thrust of the Smith vs Smith consensus has been that one – the incumbent – is a box-of-tricks individual who is not always on the same wavelength as those around him and able to bring the best out of them. The challenger has been championed as a calm facilitator who is far more likely to make the backline hum.
But there is an underlying negativity at the heart of that argument; as if Marcus brings too much risk and not enough reward, so he should be usurped. This observer doesn’t share that view.
Fin Smith is a wonderfully accomplished conductor at a young age, but it would be a crying shame if there was a safety-first rush to promote dependability over X-factor audacity.
For Marcus, there is no doubting where his heart is. He wants to wield the baton. He wants to run the show. Borthwick acknowledged as much after announcing his Six Nations squad on January 14, while also clarifying his own view about the correct use of his talents.
Steve Borthwick urged that Marcus Smith is ‘incredibly dangerous in space’ ahead of Saturday
Borthwick and England captain Maro Itoje (left) will hope for a better Six Nations than last year
A trip to Dublin will require experience, which Marcus Smith can offer Borthwick’s England side
‘I think Marcus is a 10 who can play at 15,’ said the head coach. ‘That’s a conversation I had with Marcus and he sees it the same way. His preferred position is 10, but he is incredibly dangerous in space.
‘I’ve started him in a 15 shirt for England and recently started him at 10, but moved him to 15 later in games. Having that versatility is important, but he’s a 10 who can play 15.’
When the Quin was first deployed as a full back at the 2023 World Cup, it was fresh, innovative thinking by the England management and it was a qualified success, despite Fiji subjecting poor Marcus to a tough ordeal in the quarter-final.
But lately, the ploy has been a Plan B, for later in games. It happened against Australia in the autumn campaign. It happened again in the final fixture against Japan, which is when there was a glimpse of the two Smiths wreaking havoc in tandem, albeit against limited opposition.
However, since missing three shots at goal in Dunedin last July, as the All Blacks edged out England by a point, Marcus has made phenomenal strides as a goal-kicker. He has been more reliable than Fin, while also bringing his trademark threat as an instinctive runner.
Now is the time to back him and keep him in place. A trip to Dublin demands experience. Maybe Italy at home in March is the occasion to give Fin the start he covets.
Marcus can run amok from deep later in the game at the Aviva, when spaces may open up, even against a formidable home defence. It is a useful scenario for England; a means of either chasing a game or closing one out, with an extra ball-player on the field.
But for now, from the outset, it is right to retain the incumbent. He did nothing wrong in November to warrant being ousted from his preferred place.
England XV to face Ireland: 1 Genge, 2 Cowan-Dickie, 3 Stuart; 4 Itoje (C), 5 Martin; 6 Chessum, 7 Curry, 8 Earl; 9 Mitchell, 10 Smith; 12 Slade, 13 Lawrence; 11 Freeman, 14 Roebuck, 15 Steward
