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The Esterhuizen-like player tipped for England start outside Smith
Former England utility back Austin Healey has called on Eddie Jones to pick Mark Atkinson as an Andre Esterhuizen-type player at inside centre for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations opener away to Scotland in order to get the best out of Marcus Smith at No10.
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The 22-year-old Smith only has five caps so far but the rookie Test level out-half has brought his game to new heights at Harlequins in recent times where he has had Esterhuizen, the out-of-favour Springboks midfielder who is bang in form, constantly creating go-forward ball to help create space at club level.
Healey now wants this type of combination style to be recreated at Test level in order to enhance what Smith has to offer and, writing before it emerged on Friday lunchtime that England skipper Owen Farrell had suffered an injury setback, he suggested it was time to turn away from positioning Farrell at No12 and to try someone very different, namely Gloucester’s Atkinson.
The 31-year-old is an unknown at Test level having only made a short debut off the bench in last November’s Autumn Nations Series win over Tonga, but Healey reckons he has the tools to help bring out the attacking best that is constantly seen of Smith at Harlequins with Esterhuizen playing outside him.
“What really makes you tick when you are a player like Smith is that you only really need three players to be on your wavelength: your inside centre and your wings,” reasoned Healey in his latest column in the UK Telegraph.
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“The players out wide are trying to recognise the space which you have already spotted, and your twelve is there to drop the ball off to, who then makes ground. So even when you get caught a little bit in the pocket with the defence in front of you, you can ship the ball on to your twelve for a power option and power makes ground before you try again. It’s like having a reset button, or an extra life in the video game of rugby.
“Without Manu Tuilagi in that England squad, and with no time yet announced for his return, Smith does not have that disposable option to make ground. Owen Farrell is a great player, but for all of his quality traits, with Smith and Farrell it feels like England have an either/or scenario, rather than selecting both. By doing so, you are taking a bit of Smith’s edge away.
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“The closest option England have with Tuilagi out to replicate what Smith gets from Andre Esterhuizen at Harlequins is with Gloucester’s Mark Atkinson. If you are going to pick Smith, you have to play either Atkinson or Luke Northmore, Smith’s uncapped Harlequins teammate, at inside centre.
“Assuming Tuilagi is not fit to face Scotland, I would play the following backline: Ben Youngs and Smith, probably Atkinson at twelve because he is the most like Esterhuizen, with Henry Slade at 13. Joe Marchant on the right wing, Freddie Steward at full-back, and then Max Malins on the left wing.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments