England’s decision to start Marcus Smith at No 10 against Japan on Saturday is the right one.
But I absolutely hate the idea that he will be moved from fly-half to full back at some point in the game in Tokyo to accommodate Fin Smith alongside him as head coach Steve Borthwick hinted at on Tuesday.
I’ve really liked Borthwick’s approach and team selection this year. But I can’t stand this kind of premeditated diplomatic selection. Whether it was Marcus Smith or Fin Smith who was given the nod at fly-half, the one thing I would be striving for is giving them 80 minutes in the hot seat.
If that meant one came home from this tour of Japan and New Zealand without actually getting on the field, then so be it.
I would love to see one of these players emerge as a talismanic fly-half that England can build their team around. The risk of having two such talented young fly-halves is the coach ends up being non-committal.
Steve Borthwick must not move Marcus Smith (pictured) to full-back mid-match
The Harlequins fly-half has been picked ahead of Northampton namesake Fin Smith (pictured)
England have a very exciting backline led by two talented fly-halves and should have too much for Japan
When I was England coach, Matt Dawson and Kyran Bracken gave me similar headaches at scrum-half, but you must have a clear selection in your mind and avoid diplomatic substitutions.
The pecking order will naturally change — as it did with Matt and Kyran — or injuries make decisions for you. Both Dawson and Bracken became better players knowing at any given moment they were either No 1 or No 2.
I do not see Marcus as an international full back. His talents make him passable at No 15, but playing him there is such a waste. What happens if Marcus is bossing the match on Saturday? If he is, he must stay as the primary playmaker.
Equally, what if George Furbank is having a blinder at 15? Why on earth would you move him? I suspect England have looked at New Zealand’s Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie who can both play 10 and 15 extraordinarily well.
Marcus can play at full back, but only in an emergency. He should not be positioned there in a planned move. He’s a fly-half and a fly-half only. He deserves his chance at 10 — he can show he can really lead a team at international level — and is part of a really exciting side.
But England have recently made the mistake of playing Owen Farrell at inside centre when he was clearly a No 10 and that did him no favours. England might end up making the same mistake with Marcus.
They have full-back options in Furbank and Freddie Steward and the goal should be to produce the world’s best in that position, not fill it with a watered-down Marcus. The sooner Borthwick abandons the Marcus Smith full-back idea, the better.
Borthwick (pictured) sprang a surprise by naming his team to face Japan early
I do, however, like the fact Borthwick has named his team early to give the players a settled build-up to the game. It’s a strong England side. But make no bones about it, they need to win. They must head to New Zealand on the back of a victory and with some confidence.
It is hard to know what to expect from Japan. This will be their first game back under Eddie Jones’s guidance. It is likely they won’t die wondering and will look to run the ball and get it away from the contact area quickly.
It will be hot and humid in Tokyo, but England can thrive. You find out a lot about your players away from home. This is Borthwick’s first summer tour as head coach and it is a chance to learn for him and his squad.
Japan are likely to go for broke. But England should have the mindset that if the Brave Blossoms score four tries, they’ll score five. They have the talent.
The back division is mouthwatering and England have a fearsome pack. They should have too much for Japan. But it’s about how England play too.
At the end of the Six Nations, they showed progress with their attacking game. England must have that mindset this weekend. Of course they will be up against their old friend Jones who had a disastrous second half of his time in charge of England and who didn’t cover himself in glory in his short stint with Australia.
The second half of Eddie Jones’ (pictured) tenure as England head coach was disastrous
Jones and his England player reflect after their World Cup final defeat in Japan in 2019
Jones took over at the Wallabies and endured a torrid 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign
I criticised his England team towards the end of his tenure as he became distracted and abrasive. He tried to be too clever. But I hope Jones has moved past that. He is and always will be a very good coach.
When I coached against Jones, I was always impressed with how he went about his business. I really loved and respected our rivalry. But it cannot be just the Eddie show. That doesn’t benefit his Japan team. And it certainly won’t help England if they are distracted.
I expect a smiley Eddie this week, embracing his former assistant Borthwick and building up the talents of Marcus Smith. But keep an eye out for a spicy comment or two.
But England need to forget Jones. This is about them and what they can do and there can be no doubt they have a side full of potential.
They are capable of big things this summer.
