Why Finn Russell 'edges' Marcus Smith in race for the Lions 10 shirt

Heading into the Autumn Nations Series, the two front-runners to wear the British and Irish Lions No 10 jersey at the end of the season were Scotland’s Finn Russell and England’s Marcus Smith.

Two weeks in, and not much has changed. Both players have actually lost all the matches they’ve played in (Russell against South Africa, and Smith against the All Blacks and Australia), but they’ve still come out in credit. In fact, it was Smith’s withdrawal in the loss to New Zealand that caused the most consternation.

Barring injury, a calamitous drop in form or a miraculous rise from one of the outsiders, both players will be on the plane to Australia in six months’ time. The real question is which one will start against the Wallabies.

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Both toured South Africa in 2021 – Smith being called up midway through as cover for an injured Russell – and both have taken their game up another level since then, so the race is on.

Former England scrum-half Ben Youngs puts forward a very compelling case as to why Russell currently ‘edges’ ahead of the Englishman.

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Joining RugbyPass TV’s Boks Office this week, in collaboration with his own podcast For the Love of Rugby, Youngs shared what he believes is a “massively overlooked” part of the Scot’s game, which is his game management.

Though Youngs, a Lion himself, didn’t actually discuss who he thinks should start in the red jersey, he did compare the two fly-halves, which may be food for thought for Andy Farrell.

“His actual game management is massively overlooked because you associate him with the highlight reels,” the 129 England and Lions international said.

“But everyone forgets that he’s so effective at getting out of his half, decision-making, execution of kicks, managing that territory battle- he’s phenomenal at that.

“I look at him and Marcus Smith, where they’re very similar ball-in-hand, but where Finn edges Marcus for me right now as a Test player is he’s also fantastic at managing the game. Australia v England at the weekend, there were times where your 10 has to control that game and bring it back to the power game for England.

“That’s where Russell sometimes doesn’t get the plaudits he deserves. He’s amazing with front-foot ball, but he’s also very, very good at managing the game.”

Former South Africa captain John Smit is also an admirer of the Bath playmaker, however, he likes the defensive side of his game.

Joining the podcast this week, the World Cup-winning captain said: “Everyone sees him as this attacking maverick.

“He does try a little bit more than most fly-halves – if you put him behind a massive back I’d love to see what he could do – but what I love about him is he loves to hit. He doesn’t shy away from that vacuum and he puts his shoulder in and he gets stuck in.

“It was quite interesting listening to him talk, he comes across as a guy who’s fair-weather and playing the game, but he loves playing for Scotland and he hates losing.”