Marcus Smith gives update on leg after 'special' day in Twickenham
Marcus Smith spoke of a new era for England after producing a devastating cameo that helped launch the Autumn Nations Series with a 69-3 victory over Tonga.
Smith has declared himself fit for Australia’s visit to Twickenham on Saturday after defying the leg injury that confined him to a bench role against the Islanders to amass a 15-point haul composed of a try and five conversions.
On the pitch for just 29 minutes, his arrival inspired a second wind at a point when his team led 36-3 but the flow of tries had been stemmed by determined yet limited opposition.
England intend building their challenge for the 2023 World Cup around the electric 22-year-old and as he intelligently orchestrated play, running in one touch down and directly setting up another, he outlined an exciting vision for the future.
Far tougher tests are to come against Australia and South Africa over the next two weekends, but the 11-try demolition was a genuine step forwards for a team that has been freshened up since finishing fifth in the Six Nations.
“It was the start of the new journey for us. As a squad, there are a lot of new faces and a lot of older faces,” Smith said.
“To play against Tonga at home in front of a sell out crowd was special. To have a sell-out crowd supporting us on this new journey was amazing.
“We stressed after the game that this is only the start of the journey. It was nice to score 69 points at home against a very good Tonga team.
“However, we have loads to work on. It’s a massively exciting squad and we’re desperate to improve this week. All of us are desperate to keep getting better individually as well.
“That will hopefully make us collectively better. I’m massively excited to be a part of it. It’s a special feeling we’ve got but it’s another big week and another big game ahead.
“Massive credit to Tonga, they came with a lot of passion and a lot of determination. The boys who started the first-half were amazing. They set the platform for the game. They smashed it in the first-half.
“The finishers at half-time were told to bring an energy and bring an impact and that was our job. All of us tried to do that when we came on and I really enjoyed my run on to the field.”
Smith excelled despite being limited to one training session all week because of the unspecified leg injury that meant when Owen Farrell was ruled out by a positive Covid test, it was George Furbank who started at fly-half.
'It was the hardest decision I had to make in my professional career so far.' @brad_shields talks to @heagneyl ??? about @WaspsRugby , buses, New Zealand and why he hasn't given up on returning to the England fold #Wasps #EnglandRugby https://t.co/47sEZfI0Ho
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 7, 2021
Furbank performed with distinction, showing his own flourishes in attack, but the roar that greeted Smith when he arrived on to the pitch reflected who the crowd had really come to see.
“My leg felt really good coming on to the field. The medical team with England guided me throughout the week and gave me the go-ahead to train on Friday and then play,” Smith said.
“I went out there with no holds barred and gave it my best. It felt really good out there and the leg feels good now.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
2 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
11 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
11 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
11 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to comments