England head coach Steve Borthwick has lauded the dual-playmaker axis of Fin and Marcus Smith but highlighted where his side will need to be ‘sharp’ to neutralise Scotland’s kicking game.
Borthwick has kept his faith in ‘Smith-squared’ following his side’s dramatic 26-25 win over France last time out, with Northampton’s F. Smith assisting the last-gasp try and later slotting the winning conversion.
“We now have two ball-players”
The 10-15 dual-playmaker axis has quickly become a growing trend in rugby. The All Blacks have deployed both Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett in their starting XV in the past year and have previously used a combination of Richie Mo’unga and Barrett as well, the Springboks have called upon Damian Willemse and Willie Le Roux to slot alongside Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok in the past, and now England have followed suit too.
George Furbank was the main catalyst behind this change in tactic, with the Northampton Saints man usurping Freddie Steward as England’s 15 in last year’s Six Nations, but with Furbank still on the physio table, Bothwick has turned to Harlequins fly-half M. Smith to fill that particular void.
Speaking to the press ahead of his side’s Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland this weekend, Borthwick lauded his new attacking axis, detailing why he feels they are a combination that works.
“With Fin and Marcus (Smith’s), we now have two ball-players who see space in the front line and in the back-field,” he said. “That’s going to be very important this weekend.”
He also went out of his way to praise Marcus, who has shifted out of his usual position to now don the number 15.
“Marcus is a player with incredible ability, and the opposition sometimes focuses a lot on him,” said Borthwick. “Sometimes, that creates space for others, but sometimes there will be a window for him to find.”
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This system clearly works for both players and even Borthwick himself. F. Smith has long been touted as a future England international, despite nearly declaring for Scotland, and it now seems he is getting his shot in the starting XV. For M. Smith, his attacking flourishes are coming out without the pressure of having to lead the attack and led the way for metres made for his side with 88 across his shift. He also notched one linebreak and beat four defenders.
For Borthwick, he also gets to see his new attacking identity finally played out as well, but has that composure and calmness that was previously lacking.
The England boss has now instilled his trust in this combination, with the hopes they can claim a first Calcutta Cup triumph since 2020.
Wary of Russell kicking game
Whilst the Smith-squared combination works from an attacking point of view, they have yet to be fully exploited under the high ball.
M. Smith’s relative inexperience in the 15 shirt, with him only playing there a handful of times for Quins and two Test starts for England in this new position, could potentially leave him vulnerable to Scotland’s kicking game, led by the mercurial Finn Russell – who is understood to be in-line to feature after coming off early against Ireland.
“Scotland are very smart in the way they play,” Borthwick said.
“Finn Russell has a very varied kicking game, so we have to be sharp and make sure that all the space is covered; because he will find it.”
Luckily, though, England also have Tommy Freeman and Ollie Sleightholme available to help defuse some of Russell’s bombs with the Northampton men also starting in the back-three. Elliot Daly is also an option to come on at fullback too if required.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/england-steve-borthwick-pinpoints-where-very-smart-scotland-could-expose-important-smith-squared-axis
