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Former All Black flyhalf delivers verdict on whether Marcus Smith is ready to play for England
By PA
Former New Zealand fly-half Nick Evans believes Harlequins playmaker Marcus Smith is “definitely” ready to make his England debut.
Smith has proved integral to Quins’ Gallagher Premiership play-off push, with the 22-year-old closing in on 250 league points this term.
Quins currently hold the fourth and final play-off spot with three regular-season games left.
And Smith’s sustained excellence must give him an outstanding chance of featuring when England tackle the USA and Canada at Twickenham this summer.
Leicester’s vastly-experienced international fly-half George Ford will also be available for those games after missing out on British and Irish Lions selection, yet there are many who feel that England boss Eddie Jones should hand Smith an opportunity.
Asked if Smith was ready for England, Quins attack coach Evans said: “Yes, definitely.
“The way he has performed, especially the last month-and-a-half, he has been a big part of our success.
“You can see how much he has grown and where he is aiming to be. His aspirations are to play for his country. He’s desperate.
“I think he is performing to the level he needs to be, and I feel he just needs to be given the opportunity now. A lot of people feel the same.
“What has impressed me is he hasn’t got too far ahead of himself.
“I think maybe the last couple of years he has focused on England, but (recently) he has focused on us and he has made sure his performances for us have been right on the money.
“That’s all you can do, put yourself in the window so many times. Hopefully, he has done enough, and I would certainly back him to do that.”
Ford and Smith’s head to head at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday was watched by Jones, with Tigers claiming a 35-29 victory.
Ford, along with two-try England prop Ellis Genge, enjoyed a dominant first-half display, but Smith made a considerable impact as Quins fought their way back into the contest and ended up claiming two bonus points.
“I thought when we gave Marcus the kind of ball that he likes and the service that he enjoys, he looked really dangerous and he got us round the park,” Evans added.
“It was a good challenge for him because we haven’t actually played in wet conditions for a long time.
“It was a good learning experience for Marcus, especially when they were down to 13 (players), how he managed the game there.
“He has been having an absolutely unbelievable period of form, and he is learning every day.”
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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