Eddie Jones sends blunt message to Marcus Smith
Eddie Jones will be very much aware of the hysteria surrounding fly-half Marcus Smith at the moment.
The 22-year-old finished last season in spectacular fashion, guiding Harlequins to the Gallagher Premiership before earning his first England cap. Soon after that he was called into Warren Gatland’s British & Irish Lions squad, who were already in South Africa. He has continued this season in the same vein as last, as Quins sit second in the league.
Many fans and pundits expect Smith to take hold of the England No10 shirt after being named in Jones’ 34-man squad for the autumn on Monday, particularly as George Ford missed out on a place. But the Australian has never been one to let the English public get carried away with itself and had a fairly blunt response when questioned about Smith’s role in his England team.
“Well first of all he’s got to get in the side,” Jones said after announcing his squad.
“That’s the number one step, of which he is one of 34 players to get into 23. So if he does that, then there’s an opportunity for him to add his own flavour and his own strength to the team.”
England squad
Forwards:
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 2 caps)
Callum Chick (Newcastle Falcons, 2 caps)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 31 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 33 caps)
Trevor Davison (Newcastle Falcons, 1 cap)
Nic Dolly (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 1 cap)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 23 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 30 caps)
Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 48 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 87 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 72 caps)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 7 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 44 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 24 caps)
Backs:
Mark Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 93 caps)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)
Max Malins (Saracens, 8 caps)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 66 caps)
Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons, 1 cap)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 40 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 2 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 43 caps)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 51 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 109 caps)
