As France was plunged into darkness and despair on Friday over the plight of their stricken captain, there was a ray of light in the far north-east, for visiting England fans and those watching at home.
Having been picked to start at full back against Chile, Marcus Smith delivered a statement of intent ahead of the Pool D fixture on Saturday evening. ‘Playing for England is always a dream,’ said the Harlequins prodigy. ‘This weekend, I am massively excited to go out there with good mates and try to put a show on.’
This will be an encouraging message to those who have savoured the national team’s results in this World Cup — resounding victories over Argentina and Japan — but lamented their low-risk methods. England have been pragmatic and effective, but people are crying out for a glimpse of some style to go with the increasing substance.
Steve Borthwick’s selection for this banker match against gallant but out-classed South American opposition will have generated a fresh spark of interest. Now Smith can ignite a firestorm of renewed positivity and anticipation about the bigger challenges ahead, if he can seize the chance which has been presented to him, in a new position.
His appearances off the bench have been promising. He has troubled tiring defences and given his team another dimension in the closing stages of matches. Now the task is to take that on a stage, by wreaking havoc from deep, from kick-off, in a creative alliance with recalled England captain Owen Farrell, who will wear the No 10 shirt.
Marcus Smith will start at full back for England against Chile and delivered a message of intent
Smith described playing for England as ‘a dream’ and said he wants to ‘try to put a show on’
England captain Owen Farrell will return at No10 for the game following the end of his ban
‘I have tried to connect as much as I can with Faz this week,’ said Smith, in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live. ‘Hopefully, we’ll build that connection between 10 and 15 so we can link on the field and I can give him my eyes from a wider position on the field, and help out as much as I can.
‘I have tried to be that guy from the back; slightly wider, to allow me to get out the back or get the ball in positions where I can feel dangerous and threatening or I can put our wingers in space. I think it will come with time.’
In the latter phase of the doomed Eddie Jones era, the Australian sought to build a new-look back line around a 10-12 alliance of Smith and Farrell. It didn’t quite click, but the apprentice has relished learning from the master.
‘I’ve loved working with him ever since I was young — 17, 18,’ said Smith. ‘He has always had his arm round me, pushed me, tried to get the best out of me, and I’m very grateful for what he’s done for me. Now I’m looking forward to taking the field with him this weekend.’
Borthwick was at pains to emphasise the enhanced defensive resilience Smith has shown of late and also how he has worked at developing his authority under the high ball. That will be required, if he is to flourish at full back. Smith dismissed any suggestion that being much smaller than the towering, imperious Freddie Steward — England’s established last line of defence — would be a problem.
‘There are a lot of full backs who are quite short around the world,’ he said. ‘Obviously in 2003, England had Jason Robinson who was a livewire from the back. Richie Mo’unga has played there a bit and so has Beauden Barrett (for the All Blacks) and they are not huge. Hopefully, I can add something slightly different from the back, in my own personal way.’
At some stage in the second half, there is a possibility that England could have three playmakers on the field — if George Ford is brought off the bench, and Smith and Farrell are not replaced. That would provide plenty of decision-making and distribution skill, not to mention additional kicking clout. Borthwick’s side have been criticised — and even booed by their own fans — for kicking the ball away too much, but Smith was adamant that they have a plan and a purpose.
‘We want to try and dominate territory and field position,’ he said. ‘Sometimes, when defences are so strong and they put a lot of numbers in the front line, it exposes some space in the back-field, so you have to roll the ball in behind them. It means their forwards run further, they’ve got to do another couple of rucks and you get a kick-return.
England head coach Steve Borthwick has said his side want to dominate territory and possession in the game
England haven’t been at their best so far in the competition but have already played their hardest matches of the Pool
‘There’s a lot of thinking that goes behind it, we’re not just kicking it away for the sake of it. We practise it in the week as well. There’s always a plan behind what we’re trying to do. You’ve got to believe in us that we want to do you guys proud. That’s always at the forefront of our mind.’
Smith at full back represents the first bold ploy hatched by this regime. The fear is that it will be a one-off glimpse of something more adventurous, before a return to extreme pragmatism for the encounter with Samoa in two weeks on October 7 and the knock-out matches to follow.
It is up to the brilliant young Lion to force the coaches to regard this as more than just a roll-of-the-dice Plan B for when their high-kick, high-intensity, high-pressure territorial approach doesn’t work against a leading nation here.
If Smith runs amok and sets England’s attack alight — albeit against limited opposition — there will be a clamour for him to be retained. Maybe it is not too late for Borthwick’s side to add some extra, dangerous layers, and excite their public at last.
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