England are poised to select both Fin Smith and Marcus Smith in the same starting team to face France in the Six Nations this weekend. The young Northampton outside-half is in line to make his first start in the No 10 jersey with the Harlequin fly-half set to be redeployed at full-back for Saturday’s game against Les Bleus at Allianz Stadium.
England will not officially unveil their lineup until Thursday but it is understood selectorial changes are on the cards following last weekend’s opening round defeat in Ireland. With Cadan Murley unavailable having suffered a foot injury, a back three reshuffle is likely to involve his Quins clubmate and good friend starting in the same role he filled in the final quarter in Dublin.
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Marcus Smith has been England’s first-choice 10, aside from injury absences, since the 2023 Rugby World Cup while his 22-year-old namesake has collected seven caps, all of them off the replacements’ bench. While England’s lack of recent success – they have lost seven of their last nine Tests – has intensified the pressure on the management, this is not the first time the head coach, Steve Borthwick, has taken a punt on the more experienced Smith at No 15.
The theory behind it is that France frequently kick long, offering chances for a dangerous runner like Smith to counterattack. On the other hand, it does not greatly stiffen England’s defence, as Bundee Aki underlined last Saturday. A rampant France, who won 53-10 on their last visit to Twickenham two years ago, will not go easy on either England’s rookie fly-half or their makeshift full-back.
Marcus Smith did fill in at full-back for all but eight minutes of last year’s encounter with France in Lyon, when England were narrowly edged out in a thrilling game. The England backs coach, Richard Wigglesworth, speaking at the team hotel in Bagshot, opted to sidestep direct selection questions but sees no reason why the time to unite the Smiths cannot be now.
“We’ve seen Marcus at 15 with George Ford and we’ve seen him with Fin,” said Wigglesworth. “He’s obviously another set of eyes that are very opportunistic. ‘Where’s the space? Who can I beat?’ Whether it is with George or with Fin, that’s what it would bring.
“I think we are blessed with three 10s who can all play international rugby to a high level. Fin has had less chance than the rest at the moment, but he is really clear with his game. He is confident without being arrogant and wants to get better. He has all the things you associate with top 10s. He is really clear with what he wants and how to best position the team. I’ve been super impressed with him. We’ve got some unbelievably talented younger boys, it’s just about us trying to up-speed them as quick as possible.”
England would love the calm, composed Saint to be the missing piece in their midfield jigsaw and centre Henry Slade believes the former has the ability to be an influential Test player. “He sees space really well,” said Slade. “There’s always going to be space on the field somewhere; you can’t defend everything. I feel like he sees it really well.
“Obviously he’s a slightly different 10 to Marcus. Marcus has got that x-factor in terms of beating a man one on one but I think Fin is very measured. He also speaks very well and, as I say, finds space very well. That’s a big part of a No 10’s role …moving the team around to where they need to be on the pitch. I think he’s been really good at that.”
“It can be tough being a younger guy coming up through. But I think the ones that do the best are the ones that really embrace it and have the confidence to speak up and show what gets them selected in the first place. And I think now, the way he speaks in meetings or when he is on the pitch, I think he feels really confident.”
Wigglesworth, though, accepts England did not help themselves in the second half against Ireland. “The penalty count did not help our ability to get out of our half and dictate what we wanted to do to Ireland. For part of that second half it felt like we were trapped in our territory and couldn’t really get out.
“We know it is going to be a big challenge [against France] but the feeling is excitement. We did some things really well in Dublin, the first half was brilliant, some of attack was really good. You have got to think positively in all situations and make sure we are clear in how we want to impose our game.”
