This weekend, as usual, they will both wear 10 for their clubs in tough matches in France, in the Investec Champions Cup. But early next month, Marcus Smith and Fin Smith will form a new double act for England.
Time will tell how long it will last, but all indications are that Steve Borthwick is preparing to build his England backline, at least temporarily, around Smith and Smith; not a law firm, but a game maker partnership. Fin at 10 and Marcus at 15 – the position remains vacant while George Furbank completes his recovery from a broken arm. Once the Saints captain is fit and available, England’s lineup could change again. The long-term planning is unclear. A quick solution is in order.
For now, the endless, eternal fly-half debate and dilemma is expected to take another twist as the wheel of choice turns once again.
After appearing as a replacement six times, the 22-year-old Finn is on course to be put on the hot seat and asked to run the show. If so, it would be a fitting reward for his composure and creativity in orchestrating a Premier League title win last season and continuing to showcase his formidable repertoire in the current campaign.
If Borthwick were to adopt this approach, as expected, it would be a meritocratic call, but perhaps not at an ideal time. Circumstances have forced him, after opting not to try out the Smith-and-Smith alliance at the end of the grueling Autumn Nations Series, for the home bench against Japan. If it had been even the tiniest seed of an idea in the coaches’ minds, it would have been a great opportunity to experiment, but it was not taken.
Instead, the England head coach is now preparing to roll the dice in Dublin ahead of the Six Nations opener against title holders Ireland on February 1. With that game and Le Crunch at home against France in the first block of the championship matches, the pressure is on. before the trick works, otherwise the consequences can be profound.
Marcus Smith looks set to switch to full-back when England’s Six Nations campaign begins
Northampton’s Fin Smith expected to play at 10 as Steve Borthwick reshuffles his pack
Borthwick is looking for a quick fix but has yet to figure out who he wants as his long-term No.10
Marcus Smith had made the 10 shirt his own during the summer tour of Japan and New Zealand, followed by that ill-fated November campaign, with defeats to the All Blacks, Australia and South Africa, before the routine demolition of Japan. Over the course of those four Tests, it felt like England’s attack only ignited when it pulled a rabbit out of a hat. Every positive, threatening moment came from the 25-year-old Harlequin, it seemed.
He was sent off by Borthwick against New Zealand midway through the second half, causing outrage in the stands. Tellingly, Smith played a full 80 against Australia the following week. But he ended up playing at full-back when George Ford was brought on and was complicit in the Wallabies’ final game as he stepped in to make a tackle, allowing Max Jorgensen to charge down the vacated wide channel. come down.
The overview perception is of Smiths with significantly different qualities. In summary, Fin is seen as the facilitator for others – a conductor and organizer and a calm head.
Marcus, on the other hand, is regarded as the dashing maverick, more likely to produce the magic moment but criticized for not igniting the players around him consistently enough. He is often damned for only dealing with flashes of box office brilliance, without being able to steadily and relentlessly drive the team forward.
Based on the latest evidence, the criticism is harsh. In November, Marcus Smith repeatedly provided breakthrough moments. Against the All Blacks he made an interception and break and then – under fatigue – had the presence of mind to delay his pass, allowing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to run freely to the line.
Then, against the Springboks, Smith put in a dummy to drop a goal, broke to the blind side and set up a stunning strike for Ollie Sleightholme. It was a pure act of genius against one of the best defenses in the world.
Rewind a year and the picture was very different. Marcus Smith was expected to be in favor for the start of the Six Nations at the age of 10, but suffered an untimely injury during the pre-championship training camp in Girona. Ford took over at the age of 10 and after a stuttering start to the tournament for him and the team, the veteran was outstanding, at the forefront of a tactical liberation.
Ford was good in the one-point win against Ireland’s Grand Slam chasers at Twickenham, and a week later produced a masterpiece as England came close to upsetting France in Lyon – playing with a daring freedom that was breathtaking to behold . The Sale player was clearly enthusiastic about the new strategic direction, which allowed him to play flat and instinctive.
Marcus Smith was partly responsible for Australia’s winning try when he played at fullback
But he made a brilliant break and pass to set up a try against New Zealand
His quick thinking also opened space for Ollie Sleightholme to land against South Africa
Such was the magnitude of his personal contribution that Ford was widely seen as having reasserted his command in the role of playmaker. However, an Achilles injury kept him out of the summer tour, allowing Marcus Smith to seize the shirt and the initiative once again.
Now another change is looming. Perhaps Borthwick will eventually adopt a horses-by-course policy in the way he selects and rotates his tens depending on the circumstances and the opposition. That could be taken as a ditherer’s curse or a clever workaround. The Boks have a similar approach in the way they mix and match, usually between Manie Libbok and Handre Pollard.
England also have a recent history of it, such as at the 2019 World Cup when Eddie Jones used Ford and Farrell, then Farrell with Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade against the physical Wallabies, before returning to the Ford-Farrell axis for the semi-final. final in Japan.
For years; that was the contest and the debate; Farrell or Ford, or both? Jones rated them both, which often meant Ford was at 10 and Farrell, even as captain, at 12. Then it was Farrell against Marcus Smith. Then it was Farrell AND Smith. Then it was Ford vs. Smith, then Smith vs. Smith. Now Smit AND Smit.
How will the namesakes function together? Well, magical Marcus played well after moving up to 15th at the last World Cup, although he was battered by mighty Fiji in the quarter-final and Ireland will target him in the air in Dublin.
But he likes to float behind the attacking line and look for openings, which he could do by acting as a secondary ball player, with Fin playing closer to the opponent’s defense. In theory they could work well together, despite the limited preparation time.
Who will be the primary kicker? Finn Smith was shaky in that regard last Sunday before winning the match against Bath with a last-minute penalty for Northampton. Marcus Smith has been a revelation from the tee since missing three crucial shots against the All Blacks in Dunedin. He has scored 27 of his last 28 shots on target and credits the input of Jonny Wilkinson and clubmate Leigh Halfpenny – the former Wales and Lions full-back and goalscorer.
There is a defensive factor, as part of the selection equation. Fin Smith is a force in this area and that will not be lost on Borthwick. He was on hand to see rookie Saint deliver a statement hit to Bath flanker Miles Reid at Franklin’s Gardens last weekend, showing his strength and desire to push both the ball and the ball.
Marcus and Fin Smith have different strengths, and Borthwick has to decide what he wants
He has to make a call on his kicker after Fin Smith’s shaky display off the tee last week
George Ford is also not part of the number 10 mix as he has already won 98 caps for his country
There is an ownership aspect to all of this. Who really runs the show? In Cape Town in 2018, Jones picked Danny Cipriani at 10, but Farrell exerted himself as captain to almost force the recalled fly-half out of the game. When Farrell and Smith joined forces, it created a difficult dynamic, with a feeling that the senior man was always looking over the younger man’s shoulder.
Marcus Smith is the established figure. He has won test matches. He played at a World Cup and on a Lions tour. Fin Smith is still finding his way at the highest level. Dublin is a difficult place for anyone to make a first start for their country. For all his vaunted authority and assurance at a young age, it will be a terrifying scenario.
Don’t rule out Ford. At the age of 31, he is not out of the picture, far from it. He is recovering from a minor hip injury but is just two caps away from a Test century. If the two Smiths operate together in Dublin and against France at Twickenham seven days later, it is unlikely there will be a matchday role for him as Borthwick do not require three fly-halves in the 23. But Ford is. too beautiful to finish. He is still the best judge of pass timing and depth in English rugby.
It feels like, when it comes to the endless number 10 debate, tough decisions are often dodged. Ways have been found to cover it up. But if Furbank returns, as he will, then what? What if it really works? What if it’s a disaster? At some point, Borthwick knows he will have to make a big decision. The Smith-and-Smith option feels more like a stopgap or last-quarter trump card than a long-term formula.