Northampton Saints star Fin Smith has received huge praise from Springboks legends Nick Mallett and Robbie Fleck following his performance against the Bulls in Pretoria.
Smith has been a driving force in Saints’ success, particularly last season en route to a Premiership title. His form earned him a Test debut earlier this year, coming off the bench against Italy in the Six Nations.
However, he has struggled to get significant minutes in the starting XV with Steve Borthwick preferring Harlequins star Marcus Smith and, when fit, George Ford.
“Fin Smith is more complete”
But his outing for Northampton at Loftus Versfeld has Mallett and ex-Springboks centre and Stormers coach Fleck believing that Borthwick isn’t fielding his best fly-half.
“He is the best [English] ten,” Fleck enthusiastically stated on the Boks Office podcast.
“Look, Marcus Smith was outstanding in the international arena now but when it comes to a complete 10, Marcus is more of a star player that creates opportunities for himself while Fin Smith is more complete.
“He is young and learning a lot from Marcus Smith and I watched the interview and they both help each other but that guy’s got the complete game, he is an outstanding young fly-half.”
Mallett agreed with Fleck, saying “he’s a complete player and he can certainly defend that channel.”
Like Henry Honiball
The former Bok boss further elaborated by comparing the styles of the two players and likened the 22-year-old to legendary fly-half Henry Honiball, who was crucial to South Africa’s record 19-game unbeaten run under Mallett’s tutelage.
“A top fly-half creates for the players outside him, he doesn’t create for himself or is not looking for himself, it’s when it opens up that he takes it but he’s always looking to draw attention and to create space for other people he does that,” he explained.
“I’ve got a feeling that Marcus is looking for a little sidestep and a little show and go and if it’s not on then he passes but Fin Smith is more like Henry Honiball than Marcus.”
Smith was not the only Saints star that caught the eye with former U20s flanker Henry Pollock also producing a noteworthy performance against Jake White’s Bulls.
“He dominated in the World U20s this year. He’s an outstanding rugby player, outstanding,” Fleck said.
“I mean he’s mixing it with some of the best in the world and he’s tough scoring tries, making steals; the steal that he had on the weekend against the Bulls on Hanekom. He is a phenomenal young talent.”
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/england-nick-mallett-likens-complete-fly-half-fin-smith-to-springboks-great-and-backs-him-ahead-of-marcus-smith
