'What we are seeing from him is more like when he played at Brighton College'
Eddie Jones has given his verdict on the current form of rejuvenated Harlequins out-half Marcus Smith ahead of the June 10 England squad announcement for the summer series which consists of matches against Scotland A, the USA and Canada. The uncapped 22-year-old has been blazing a trail in recent months in the Gallagher Premiership since signing a contract extension and committing his future to title-chasing Quins.
With England skipper Owen Farrell on tour with the Lions and the potential for the seasons George Ford to take a summer backseat, there is optimism that Jones might turn to Smith two years after he last appeared in an England shirt when they played the Barbarians at Twickenham in the June 2019 uncapped exhibition.
Jones held a media session this week ahead of the squad announcement, his first dealings with the press since fulfilling his post-game duties following the March 20 Guinness Six Nations loss to Ireland in Dublin.
The England coach refused to indulge speculation that Smith will be chosen, stating: “We’ll see. That is all to be answered next week.” However, he said more than enough to add fuel to the fire that the Harlequins No10 is on track to potentially earn that elusive debut Test cap.
“He has really benefited from increased ruck speed,” said Jones, explaining what he likes about what Smith has lately been producing for his club.
"We are seeing that come to the fore probably more in the southern hemisphere at this stage"
– Sounds like wounded England have their work cut-out playing catch up on the rest https://t.co/GPCGuCzPFD
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 2, 2021
“What we are seeing from him is more like when he played at Brighton College. I remember watching him in 2015 at Brighton College where when there was something on he took it and maybe for a period of time he was more likely to be a pattern player. He is getting a nice balance in his game between understanding the responsibilities of getting the team organised but then playing what is in front of him and his development is really positive.”
With their place in the playoffs secured, Harlequins are expecting Smith to hear good news next week. Assistant coach Nick Evans, the ex-All Blacks out-half, has been enthused by the youngster’s progress in recent months. “He has performed well enough to get an opportunity on the tour,” reckoned Evans at last week’s club media briefing. “It will depend on how Eddie feels and what make-up of the team he wants to go for, but Marcus has done unbelievably well in putting his hand up and foot in the door.
“One of the main things he has concentrated on is playing well for Quins. In the past, even he would admit he has looked forward too much on how to get into England whereas this year he has done amazingly well to focus on Quins and make sure his performances, skillset and tactical nous has been right for us. He has done a fantastic job, put his foot in the door, so we will have to wait and see now.”
'It’s always nice to inject a bit of animosity"#SALvHARhttps://t.co/pjdPXCDe79
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 2, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
What ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
129 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
129 Go to commentsPacific Lions, cry me a river
129 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
129 Go to commentsGuys. Cancel the World Cup champions after this analysis. It changes everything. Ben knows. We’ll have to unengrave the Bokke off the trophy and hand it to the ABs, now that I’ve been enlightened about this illegitimate win. This needs to be done. Now!
129 Go to commentsBen is right here though, Springboks were woefully poor with the advantage they had throughout this game. The France match was heroic because that was an even contest this match had it taken place in Rugby Championship would have been an easy win for NZ. If anything this match should tell the Bok coaches that a lot of this team should be changed. They beat this same NZ team by record margin with the same circumstances but with a different core. They bring back the tried and tested guys and they nearly botch this game.
129 Go to commentsI knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
129 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
129 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
129 Go to commentsHo hum.
129 Go to commentsNo question they were the better team. But that is the beauty of sport isn’t it!
129 Go to commentsEveryone is into Hurling in Ireland according to Porter, but only 11 of Ireland's 32 counties enter a team into the national competition. Same old blarney.
1 Go to commentsLet’s be honest. The draw and scheduling in the World Cup was a joke but South Africa found a way after having to go the hard (nearly impossible) way to the Cup Final via France and England. NZ had a hard game against France (lost) and had 5 weeks to prepare for the Quarter, 3 weeks knowing it was Ireland. NZ theerfore had to win one big game against an Irish team who played SA and then Scotland 7 days before. They won and it was de facto a semi final because they were playing a relatively weak Argentina team and it was a walk over. In the final a very rested NZ team was playing a very tired SA team and still lost. They couldn’t score more than 11 points. Put another way SA had to find a way to win while tired and they achieved that. NZ should thank their lucky stars that they fixed the scheduling in 2015 otherwise they would be dealing with a Bok treble.
129 Go to commentsPerhaps if Bongi wasn’t targeted and removed from the game in the first 3 minutes it would have been quite a different game. Maybe if NZ also faced the same competition the Boks faced to their win NZ would have looked quite different. The final score shows who outplayed who.
129 Go to commentsRubbish article! Abuladze played most of Exeters matches when fit. He got injured against Glasgow a while ago and is out for the rest of the season, thats why he hasnt played for Exeter and Georgia recently. Do some proper research next time!
1 Go to commentsGotta love it when kids throw their toys out the pram and can’t hack it with the grown ups debate. Here’s looking at you turlough! 😉🤣
148 Go to commentsThey lost the game period move on
129 Go to commentsSpringboks won! Stop winging. You can change the game however much you and your rugby colonizing IRB want to and the Springboks will win you at that too. Your mind is colonized my friend get a life
129 Go to commentsBen, nobody gets fooled anymore by selective and biased data to support an hypothesis. Games are decided on such small margins these days that you win some and lose some, and dominance is a thing of the rugby past. Look at the RWC circle of fortune…. Ireland beats SA who beat France who beat NZ who beat Ireland. And so it goes on. Match officials help to eliminate real indiscretions. If they had been with us years before, no doubt results would have been different. Remember Andy Haden’s dive from a lineout in 1978 for which a match-wining penalty was awarded? Wales should have beaten the ABs that day. They took the loss like the gentlemen they were.
129 Go to commentsWith all the analysis and how good the all blacks were.The fundamental mistake with the ABs is that this is a test match and not an exhibition.There is no better team(country) in world rugby than the Boks that knows how to win a test match(we are post masters at this).We know our rules, we have the discipline, we tackle like beasts, we take our points and we never give up.I now have educated the ABs supporters(at least say thank you).Please stop “bitching” , accept what the outcome is and move along swiftly.
129 Go to comments