Danny Care and Marcus Smith prove they’re England’s dream combination
Everyone knows that the only way England are going to win the World Cup is by playing a style of rugby that makes the Barbarians look like South Africa.
Despite what history, logic and universal consensus says, the only way that Steve Borthwick’s side are lifting the Webb Ellis Cup is by running from everywhere. In fact, the only time they are allowed to kick is when they are ten metres behind their own try line.
They have tried being boring for too long and it has got them nowhere. No one needs Owen Farrell, George Ford and Ben Youngs with their multiple Premiership titles and experience of guiding England to the World Cup final in 2019. No! They need swashbuckling rugby, and nothing sums up swashbuckling rugby more than a rabona kick to set up a drop goal. Who better to provide that than Danny Care and Marcus Smith.
The Harlequins duo were filmed pulling off this cheeky piece of play while on camp with England in Italy this week, and it is not too bad to be fair. Take a look:
@dannycare x @MarcuSmith10
@o2 | #WearTheRose pic.twitter.com/xAGhplUSMs— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) July 13, 2023
While this is possibly the combination that a lot of England fans want to see tried out, it seems unlikely Borthwick is going to be unorthodox with his selection. Given the lack of time he has had with England, a basic game seems to be the way forward and the tried and tested half-back combination of Ben Youngs and Owen Farrell is probably going to be deployed. Though Care and Smith have a great chemistry together from Quins, it would be revolutionary to change England’s attacking model so near a World Cup, and nothing short of lunacy as well. Then again, they may get their chance to show what they are capable of in England’s pre World Cup warm up matches against Wales (twice), Ireland and Fiji.
