Legendary centre Jeremy Guscott believes that Marcus Smith will struggle to crack the British and Irish Lions squad in his preferred position and weighs in on the prospects of France-based players.
Smith has switched between fly-half and full-back for England recently, surrendering the starting number 10 jersey to Northampton Saints star Fin Smith.
Marcus started the opening game of the Six Nations at fly-half before featuring at full-back for the next two matches and the last while coming off the bench in the third fixture.
Guscott has the Lions as favourites for three-Test series against the Wallabies in Australia later this year, even with the combined strength of England, Ireland and Scotland, with Wales providing a “small contingent”.
Finn Russell in the driving seat
One concern for the Lions legend is whether some of the Ireland stars are “over the hill”, but he backs head coach Andy Farrell to make those judgment calls.
“The Irish not meeting Grand Slam expectations, and finishing third in the Six Nations table, clouds selection a bit because Farrell knows how good they can be, but also has to read whether some of them are over the hill,” he wrote in his latest Rugby Paper column.
“That takes good judgement, and the same applies to the pecking order at fly-half.”
For Guscott, Finn Russell is in the “driving-seat” for the number 10 jersey as one of four world-class players available to Farrell along with Maro Itoje, Tadhg Furlong and Dan Sheehan.
However, Marcus Smith is further down in the pecking order according to the former England centre.
“I’ve seen enough of Fin Smith to say that he can live in a Test environment, and is the next in line,” he continued.
“He was England’s established 10 at the end of the Six Nations, and Marcus Smith is now the back-up. Sam Prendergast is inexperienced, but there are many who’ve seen more of Prendergast than me who argue that he’s ready.
“My sense is that Marcus Smith will find it hard to make the squad purely as a 10, with Prendergast, Jack Crowley, George Ford, and possibly Owen Farrell, also in the frame.”
Late release of France-based stars
The Quins star has a better chance of making the squad as a utility player covering two positions, particularly with the options behind the front-runners Blair Kinghorn and Hugo Keenan.
“He’s got more of a shout at full-back, because there is uncertainty after Blair Kinghorn and Hugo Keenan,” he added.
“Jamie Osborne is a sometime 15, and George Furbank is only just back from injury, so it’s there that Marcus’ ability to also cover fly-half is a bonus. In my book that makes him a 50-50 call.”
On the topic of Kinghorn, Guscott believes that the Scottish star’s chances of making the squad won’t be hampered by his potential late release from the Toulouse squad.
Toulouse are currently the Top 14 and Investec Champions Cup holders and are expected to go deep into the former tournament this season.
The final of France’s top division takes place on June 28, the same day as the Lions’ first game in Australia against the Western Force. Unless the French club grant the likes of Kinghorn and Jack Willis an early release, they will miss that match and the clash against Argentina.
Guscott does not believe that this will not mean that they will be overlooked.
“The release of French-based players is also going to be a factor,” he wrote.
“It is unlikely many of them will be free to join the Lions until the Top 14 play-offs are clear, and it is likely that Kinghorn and Willis could be required by Toulouse all the way to the final on June 28.
“However, late release should not rule them out if they miss a bit of team building and join the tour in the build-up to the Waratahs game a week later.
“Kinghorn is sneaky quick, and has a skill set to play anywhere in the backline bar scrum-half – so, for me, he’s on the tour. Willis also has to be a serious consideration.”
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/jeremy-guscott-marcus-smith-will-find-it-hard-to-make-the-british-and-irish-lions-squad
