Borthwick explains Smith omission as Matson and Care believe future is bright for fly-half
Instead of taking part in the England training camp Marcus Smith will prepare to take on Exeter Chiefs in Big Game 14
©David Howlett Photos
While it may well be a fallow week in the Guinness Six Nations, Steve Borthwick’s omission of Marcus Smith from a three-day training camp at Brighton College has certainly caused some commotion.
Instead of beginning preparation for England’s Test with France next week, the 24-year-old fly-half has returned to his club side Harlequins to play in the Gallagher Premiership.
After starting for England against Scotland in the Six Nations opener, Smith has scarcely featured for Borthwick’s side, including just 14 seconds off the bench last Saturday against Wales.
From the moment that the 26-man squad was announced, in which Borthwick did include Manu Tuilagi and Jonny May, there has been plenty of discourse surrounding the dismissal of Smith.
Confirmed after reporting that Smith would be returning to West London, Borthwick said that Smith would be hoping to gain match sharpness this weekend as Harlequins take on Exeter Chiefs in Big Game 14 at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Sale Sharks playmaker George Ford has been included ahead of Smith, the 29-year-old a major contributor to Leicester Tigers’ Premiership title last season under Borthwick’s leadership and has only recently returned to full fitness.
In years gone by, both of Ford and incumbent fly-half and team captain, Owen Farrell, have combined effectively at Test level. As time went on, it was a combination which was maligned, with Borthwick fully backing his decision to send Smith back to his club side.
“The first thing I’d say is that I am thinking very much around the best preparation for the team going into the Test against France a week on Saturday,” Borthwick said. “Every game matters and I want to make sure the team is right for that game.
“In the context of that, that’s why I’ve made a decision. Marcus hasn’t had very much game-time over the last two or three weeks, so I think the right thing to do is for him to go and have game-time and get match sharpness.
“George Ford, I haven’t had the opportunity to work with since nearly a year ago. That’s why I’ve made the decision to get that game-time, which I think is the best thing for him and there’s an opportunity to work with George.”
Later on in his press briefing, Borthwick would even go on to say that Smith “will be back in the squad on Sunday” in order to battle it out to be involved in the matchday 23 for the visit of France to Twickenham.
There is no sense of finality when listening to Borthwick. With Owen Farrell turning 32 during the Rugby World Cup later this year and George Ford 30 in March, it is clear that the long-term solution to the No. 10 jersey is still yet to be decided.
A near constant next to Smith every step of the way on his journey from promising youngster to international player is Danny Care.
Making his Harlequins debut at 18, Smith has been a mercurial talent in the Quarters since day one.
A player blessed with so much skill and ability, the playmaker was a key part to the club’s Premiership title in 2021, the side playing the ‘Quins way’ and very much reaping the reward for doing so.
The 36-year-old was sat in the commentary booth in Cardiff last weekend as he saw Smith appear for only seconds in England’s win.
While enthused at the prospect of lining up alongside his clubmate again this Sunday, Care says he has hoped to see more of the 24-year-old in action across the Six Nations.
“Should he be getting more game time for England?” Care said. “Yeah, I think more than 14 seconds. I do think he should be getting more, but it is tough.
“It is tough, obviously, on Marcus at the moment. Steve picked Owen Farrell as his captain, so it’s obviously going to be very hard for him to take Owen off.
“I think everyone would have liked to see a bit more of Marcus in that second half especially.
“I think the game opened up a fair bit, it went a bit stagnant in that second half and I felt like it needed a bit of a lift and there is probably no one better than Marcus to do that.
“Unfortunately, he didn’t get a big opportunity, but I have got no doubts that boy is going to play a very, very big part in England’s success over the next few years.
“The best thing about Marcus is he’ll just make the best of his opportunities. If you give him the chance, he’ll take it.
“He’s probably going to have to bide his time a little bit, but when the opportunity comes, which I’m sure it will, then he’ll show his class on the international stage, which he’s done every time he’s worn the shirt.”
As has been maintained since taking charge of England in December, Borthwick has maintained that his core objective is to win each game as it comes.
With that in mind, it is possible that a return to life with Farrell and Ford may well be on the cards before Smith and Fin Smith become the go-to fly-half options.
Now preparing to take on Exeter this weekend, Smith’s return to club duty can only be seen as a positive for Harlequins. Eighth in the Premiership table and four points adrift of their opponents in fifth, it is the sort of challenge that the 24-year-old will surely relish.
Harlequins head coach, Tabai Matson, is of the belief that one of his key men is more than in contention to play for England against France and says that the 20-cap playmaker has come back to Surrey Sports Park in the right mindset.
“I think he can be here and get the minutes that Borthwick clearly wants him to get and also be in the frame to start the next Test match, I don’t think not being in the training camp is going to hinder him in that,” Matson said on Tuesday afternoon.
“Ultimately, it might enhance it. If he has a big game and does what we know he can do, he offers something different from other people in that England roster, so we are looking at it on that side. And so is he.
“He has come back with a real energy, and he wants to contribute and play really well, he has already helped drive some of the game plan and that’s fantastic.
“It is ultimately the reason he has been given the England shirt; because of what he has done here. So, the Big Game gives him the opportunity to go ‘remember me?’.”
Borthwick would say that he hopes to see Smith “boss” things for Harlequins this weekend as Exeter come to town.
A top four battle with plenty on the line, no one is going to die wondering as the two clubs look to secure playoff rugby this season.
Thanks to having ample motivation when it comes to England and club commitments, when asked what he wants to see from Smith this weekend, Borthwick’s response is simple.
“Marcus will be back in the squad on Sunday,” Borthwick said. “He understands that. The thing I want him to have is that match sharpness. That is really important for him.
“A message I say regularly to the players is that they have great strengths. Marcus is a brilliant player, he can open up defences and I would love to see him open up the defence, put people through space, find himself space.
“He has great tactical awareness and a multitude of kicking skills. He can create space and attack space.”
