Marcus Smith’s previously unseen genius in Harlequins try is revealed
It was a statement performance by Marcus Smith at Twickenham on Saturday for Harlequins against Exeter Chiefs, where the fly-half picked up the man of the match award in his side’s 40-5 win.
After being released by England for that weekend in order to get some game time, Smith is straight back into Steve Borthwick’s 27-man squad that will prepare for France’s visit this weekend, taking the place of George Ford.
It only took Smith a few minutes to light the game up against the Chiefs, producing a perfectly weighted kick to Andre Esterhuizen to run onto and put Cadan Murley in for a try. The try was as slick as they come, and the cherry on the cake was highlighted by Topsy Ojo this week.
Ojo noticed how Smith shaped up with his body and his eyes to play a cross-field kick, which forced Chiefs fullback Josh Hodge to rush wide to cover it. That subsequently created space in the middle of the field, which Smith chipped the ball into perfectly.
Take a look:
The question now is whether Smith starts ahead of England captain Owen Farrell in the No10 shirt this Saturday when France visit, particularly as Farrell’s goal kicking has declined sharply in recent Tests.
ENGLAND SQUAD
FORWARDS
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 8 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 98 caps)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 3 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 12 caps)
Ben Earl (Saracens, 15 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 46 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 75 caps)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 10 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 65 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 17 caps)
David Ribbans (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 59 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 77 caps)
Jack Walker (Harlequins, 2 caps)
Jack Willis (Toulouse, 8 caps)
BACKS
Henry Arundell (London Irish, 5 caps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 104 caps)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 10 caps)
Max Malins (Saracens, 17 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 14 caps)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 54 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 20 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 20 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 50 caps)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 10 caps)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers, 53 caps)
