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Marcus Smith has beaten an illustrious list of names to Premiership points landmark
Harlequins out-half Marcus Smith became the second-youngest player to reach 500 Gallagher Premiership points during his display against London Irish on Wednesday night. Smith’s second try took him past the landmark and helped his side to a 38-15 win at Twickenham Stoop, with the play-maker responsible for 16 of those points.
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Only Jonny Wilkinson has reached 500 points at a younger age than Harlequins ace Smith, who made his debut for the club in 2017.
At 21 years and 207 days old, Smith has reached the landmark quicker than names including George Ford, Charlie Hodgson, Owen Farrell and Olly Barkley.
Points machine Smith said: “It’s an honour to play one game for Quins, let alone 75 or 80. I’m proud every time I wear the jersey and I love playing here at the Stoop.
“To rack up 500 points in my first three years has been brilliant. Hopefully, I can beat Jonny to 1,000! It’s a nice milestone to pass but I’d like to go past 1,000.”
? Points ???????.
? @02msmith career in numbers ? https://t.co/JnbTZ7lEU1 #COYQ pic.twitter.com/9TR5x6vc5a
— Harlequins ? (@Harlequins) September 10, 2020
Harlequins’ win moved them up to sixth place in the Premiership, but they won’t make the play-offs as they trail fourth-place Wasps by 14 points with three games remaining. “The forwards gave me the platform to score the two tries. Irish came at us in the first half as you would expect with a keen London rivalry.
“They tested our character and they were more aggressive than us. At half-time, we talked about being more physical and we showed some good character in the second half and put in a good shift.
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“We have three games left plus a cup final at Sale. We did well against them here last time so we want to finish with some wins and build as a group.”
SIX YOUNGEST PLAYERS TO SCORE 500 PREMIERSHIP POINTS
1. 21 years 100 days – Jonny Wilkinson
2. 21 years 207 days – Marcus Smith
3. 21 years 279 days – George Ford
4. 21 years 327 days – Charlie Hodgson
4. 21 years 364 days – Owen Farrell
6. 22 years 71 days – Olly Barkley
The out-half gave blindside a go at The Stoop https://t.co/YinxgFWM0p
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 3, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments