CHRIS FOY: Marcus Smith must light up England’s World Cup clash with Chile and make himself undroppable… at full back he has a chance to ignite a firestorm for Steve Borthwick

As France were plunged into darkness and despair on Friday over the fate of their stricken captain, there was a bright spot in the far north-east, for visiting England fans and those watching at home.

Marcus Smith was picked to start at full back against Chile and made a statement of intent ahead of the Pool D match on Saturday evening. “Playing for England is always a dream,” said the Harlequins wonderkid. ‘This weekend I’m really looking forward to going out with good friends and putting on a show.’

This will be an encouraging message to those who enjoyed the national team’s results at this World Cup – resounding victories over Argentina and Japan – but lamented their low-risk methods. England has been pragmatic and effective, but people are clamoring for a glimpse of a style to match the increasing content.

The selection of Steve Borthwick for this bankers’ match against brave but outclassed South American opposition will have sparked a new spark of interest. Now Smith can ignite a firestorm of renewed positivity and anticipation about the bigger challenges ahead if he can seize the opportunity presented to him in a new role.

His performances from the bench were promising. He has troubled tiring defenses and given his team a new dimension in the closing stages of games. Now the job is to bring that to the stage, wreaking havoc from kick-off, in a creative alliance with recalled England captain Owen Farrell, who will wear the number 10 shirt.

Smith described playing for England as ‘a dream’ and said he wants to ‘put on a show’

England captain Owen Farrell returns to number 10 for the match following the end of his suspension

“I’ve been trying to make as much contact with Faz as possible this week,” Smith said in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live. ‘Hopefully we build that connection between 10 and 15 so that we can communicate with each other on the pitch and I can give him my eyes from a wider position on the pitch and help as much as possible.

“I tried to be that guy from the back; a little bit wider so I can get back or get the ball into positions where I can feel dangerous and threatening or where I can put our wingers in space. I think it will come with time.”

In the final stages of the doomed Eddie Jones era, the Australian tried to build a new line around a 10-12 alliance of Smith and Farrell. It didn’t quite click, but the student enjoyed learning from the master.

“I’ve loved working with him since I was young — 17, 18,” Smith said. “He’s always had his arm around me, pushing me, trying to get the best out of me, and I’m very grateful for what he’s done for me. Now I’m looking forward to getting on the field with him this weekend.”

Borthwick was at pains to highlight the greater defensive resilience Smith has shown of late and also how he has worked to develop his authority under the high ball. That will be necessary if he wants to flourish as a full-back. Smith rejected any suggestion that being much smaller than the towering, imperious Freddie Steward – England’s last line of defense – would be a problem.

“There are a lot of full-backs around the world who are quite small,” he said. “Obviously in 2003 England had Jason Robinson who was a livewire at the back. Richie Mo’unga has played there a bit and so has Beauden Barrett (for the All Blacks), and they’re not big. Hopefully I can add something other than the back, in my own personal way.”

At some point in the second half there is a possibility that England could have three playmakers on the pitch – if George Ford is brought off the bench and Smith and Farrell are not replaced. That would provide a lot of decision-making and distribution skills, not to mention extra clout. The Borthwick side have been criticized – and even booed by their own fans – for kicking the ball away too often, but Smith was convinced they had a plan and a goal.

“We want to try to dominate territory and field position,” he said. “Sometimes when the defense is so strong and a lot of numbers are on the front line, it opens up some space in the backfield and you have to roll the ball in behind them. It means their attackers run on, they have to do a few more rucks and you get a kick return.

England head coach Steve Borthwick has said his side will want to dominate the area and possession in the match

England have not been at their best in the competition so far, but have already played their toughest games in the Pool

‘There’s a lot of thought behind it, we don’t just kick it aside. We also practice it during the week. There is always a plan behind what we are trying to do. You have to believe in us that we want to make you proud. That always comes first.’

Smith at fullback represents the first daring trick of this regime. The fear is that it will be a one-off glimpse of something more adventurous, before a return to extreme pragmatism for the meeting with Samoa in a fortnight’s time on October 7 and the knockout matches that will follow.

It’s up to the brilliant young Lion to force the coaches to see this as more than just a plan B with the roll of the dice, in case their territorial approach of high kicking, high intensity and high pressure doesn’t work against them. a leading nation here.

If Smith runs amok and sets England’s attack on fire – albeit against limited opposition – there will be calls to keep him. Perhaps it’s not too late for the Borthwick side to add some extra, dangerous layers and finally excite their crowd.