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'Make Marcus Smith England captain now' - Quins 10's inclusion demanded online
Pressure is mounting on England head coach Eddie Jones to pick Harlequins livewire, Marcus Smith, to start the Autumn Internationals after another barnstorming Gallagher Premiership performance.
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Smith led Quins to a remarkable 54 – 24 victory over Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears at the Stoop. Smith could barely put a foot wrong, a brilliant solo try after he grubbered to himself to go in under the posts the highlight.
It’s just the latest chapter in Smith’s journey, which has kicked into high gear in 2021. His Premiership heroics last season saw the 22-year-old called up to the British & Irish Lions in July by Warren Gatland and it doesn’t look like he’s ready to kick the brakes anytime soon.
While Smith started for England the last time they played (against the USA during the summer) there is a fear in some quarters that Jones may still be reticent to start him in big Tests. While Jones has dropped Leicester Tigers’ George Ford from the wider England training squad, when the chips are down the Australian has typically opted for flyhalf incumbent Owen Farrell. Of course, Jones has the option of pushing Farrell to 12 to make way for the Harlequin.
Pressure is certainly being heaped on Jones to throw caution to the wind and select Smith and ‘running rugby’ this November.
Brian Moore wrote: “Quins v Bristol – I’m not sure what more Marcus Smith and Alex Dombrandt can do to put their case for England.”
Quins v Bristol – I'm not sure what more Marcus Smith and Alex Dombrandt can do to put their case for England.
— Brian Moore (@brianmoore666) October 8, 2021
‘Eddie Jones currently thinking how he can make Marcus Smith slow the game down and kick more,’ wrote former England stand-off Andy Goode facetiously. “Just make Marcus Smith England captain now!”
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Eddie Jones currently thinking how he can make Marcus Smith slow the game down and kick more…….
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) October 8, 2021
Just make Marcus Smith England captain now!
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) October 8, 2021
RugbyPass writer Chris Jones wrote: “No doubt Harlequins Marcus Smith can bring something special to England Rugby IF Eddie Jones embraces the concepts that make Nick Evans such a brilliant attack coach.”
No doubt @Harlequins Marcus Smith can bring something special to @EnglandRugby IF Eddie Jones embraces the concepts that make @nick10evans such a brilliant attack coach
— chris jones (@chrisjonespress) October 8, 2021
Rugby Paper journalist Neil Fissler noted: “If Marcus Smith isn’t England’s starting ten this autumn we might well all pack up and go home.”
If Marcus Smith isn’t England’s starting ten this autumn we might well all pack up and go home.
— Neil Fissler (@neilfissler) October 8, 2021
Former Wales centre Tom Shanklin pondered – tongue in cheek – what it might take to lure Smith to the URC: “How much to get Marcus Smith into the URC?”
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How much to get Marcus Smith into the URC ?
— Tom Shanklin (@TomShanklin) October 8, 2021
Retired England captain Lewis Moody noted: “Well Marcus smith and Alex dombrandt last night, made a huge claim for starting spots in this year’s autumn internationals. Premiership Rugby in a great place.”
Well Marcus smith and Alex dombrandt last night, made a huge claim for starting spots in this years autumn internationals. ???? @premrugby in a great place
— Lewis Moody (@LewisMoody7) October 9, 2021
Harlequins senior coach Tabai Matson was full of praise for the youngster following the game. “Marcus Smith in this system is exceptional. Any time he gets into his groove he not only creates opportunities but is a real handful for the opposition,” Matson said.
“The try he scored on the chip through shows a world-class skill set. He was a little bit rusty on some of his kicks, but this was his first game back so you expect that.
“I wouldn’t say Alex is unique, but he’s rare as a loose forward. He’s very skilled. His anticipation of where the line breaks are going to be means that he can put the hammer down 10 seconds earlier in his support lines and assists.
“He’s so skilful. He’s playing really well. I thought he played exceptionally well. Defensively he was bloody good and got a couple of key turnovers.”
The ball is very much in Eddie Jones’ court, although he’s not a man known to bow to demands of the media – social or otherwise – but there is no doubt that Smith couldn’t make a better case for the coveted England No.10 jersey.
Comments on RugbyPass
Next week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
11 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
3 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
3 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
3 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
11 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to comments