Marcus Smith has been thrust back into the England No 10 shirt for the Test against Japan here on Saturday, as Steve Borthwick has boldly gone early with his selection for the tour opener.
In an unprecedented move, the national coach has opted to announce his line-up 48 hours before the usual Thursday slot ahead of a Saturday fixture. It is a ploy which means Borthwick has seized the initiative in the Japanese capital, in the build-up to an encounter with Eddie Jones – the renowned mind-games master who is preparing for the start of his second stint in charge of the Brave Blossoms.
The expectation had been that the Australian will dominate the agenda leading into the showdown with his former side, but he is still in Miyazaki in the far south and will be caught off-guard by this positive statement of intent from Borthwick. England’s decision to show their hand so soon conveys a belief that they have the pedigree to launch their three-Test crusade with a victory at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday.
Their confidence seems well-placed as Borthwick has assembled a formidable team for this Far East assignment, despite the enforced absence of veterans George Ford, Elliot Daly and Ellis Genge, and recent pack stalwart Ollie Chessum.
That quartet have been replaced by Marcus Smith, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Bevan Rodd and Chandler Cunningham-South, in the four starting changes from England’s last outing, against France in Lyon three months ago.
Marcus Smith has been thrust back into the England No 10 shirt for the Test against Japan
Steve Borthwick has put his faith in the Harlequins star, who edges out his namesake Fin Smith
There has been much pre-tour focus on the choice of fly-half, now that Owen Farrell has relocated to France and George Ford has been ruled out of this mission with an achilles problem. The fact that those experienced attack leaders are out of the picture – even if only temporarily, in Ford’s case – has opened the door to a Smith, but the question was which one. Borthwick has opted for Marcus, the 25-year-old Harlequin with 32 caps, over the 22-year-old Saint with two.
The fact that Fin Smith orchestrated Northampton’s surge to Premiership title glory heightened the sense of a conundrum for Borthwick, especially as he spoke so glowingly about the rookie’s supreme authority at such a young age. The presence of fellow Saints Alex Mitchell, George Furbank and Tommy Freeman in the England XV further enhanced his prospects – in the quest for early fluency and cohesion – but Marcus Smith has won the vote.
It is a crucial endorsement for the prodigious talent who Jones had sought to build a back line around, in a playmaker alliance with Farrell. He has shone in tantalising bursts but will now have a golden chance to take control without a senior figure looking over his shoulder.
This clash with Japan is a momentous occasion for the talented poster-boy of English rugby, as he strives to fulfil his vast potential. He will need to wield the conductor’s baton with conviction to ensure that he and his team go to New Zealand for Tests in Dunedin and Auckland next month with reinforced belief from a convincing performance here. The time has come for the popular, box-office apprentice to become the master, as he reaches the peak phase of his career.
Yet, there is intrigue far beyond the No 10 position. Back row has been another area of uncertainty and debate, given the disruptive absence of Chessum. Cunningham-South is preferred at blindside as a lineout-jumping option. The Kent-born, New Zealand-raised flanker will seek to mark his first Test start with the sort of explosive ball-carrying which was astonishing to behold when he led the charge in Quins’ epic win in Bordeaux in April.
As expected, Sam Underhill and Ben Earl complete the back row, and George Martin continues his lock partnership with Maro Itoje. Captain Jamie George and Dan Cole will once again give England experience and set-piece solidity in the front row, where Rodd has been preferred at loosehead. The Sale prop was outstanding in the closing stages of the domestic season and will offer dazzling skill in open play as well as improved scrummaging clout.
Smith will have a huge opportunity to stake his claim with Owen Farrell (centre) having relocated to France and George Ford (right) ruled out of this mission with an Achilles problem
England are set to come up against a Japan side coached by their former man Eddie Jones
Another notable selection is that of Tom Curry, who was expected to miss the whole season after the World Cup due to a ‘car crash’ of a hip injury which required complex surgery. But the Sale flanker made his club comeback in the Premiership play-offs and is now primed for a Test return off the bench on Saturday. There is a possibility he will resume his ‘Kamikaze Kids’ combination with Underhill, which was such a feature of England’s impressive 2019 World Cup campaign in Japan.
Aside from the significant change at 10, the other back-line tweak merely involves the restoration of Exeter wing Feyi-Waboso, who missed the game in France due to concussion. The electric runner and prolific finisher deserves his recall, having made such an impact in the Six Nations, with a try against Scotland and a major role in the shock win over Ireland. On the bench, Sale’s uncapped wing Tom Roebuck is poised for his international debut.
Borthwick has opted for a five-three split of replacements and has plenty of firepower throughout the match-day 23, despite being without several leading men. The revamped line-up appears to have a potent blend of experience and youth, pace and power. Borthwick’s decision to name early is a bullish act of optimism which seems well-founded.
In his training base 700 miles away from Tokyo, Jones has been wrong-footed by his former assistant. Even the mind-games master will struggle to regain the initiative. And he will struggle to stop this England team from spoiling the launch of his new regime.
ENGLAND: G Furbank (Northampton); I Feyi-Waboso (Exeter), H Slade (Exeter), O Lawrence (Bath), T Freeman (Northampton); M Smith (Harlequins), A Mitchell (Northampton); B Rodd (Sale), J George (Saracens. capt), D Cole (Leicester); M Itoje (Saracens), G Martin (Leicester); C Cunningham-South (Harlequins), B Earl (Saracens), S Underhill (Bath).
Replacements: T Dan (Saracens), J Marler (Harlequins), W Stuart (Bath), C Ewels (Bath), T Curry (Sale), H Randall (Bristol), F Smith (Northampton), T Roebuck (Sale).
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