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Marcus Smith 'on verge of being world class'
By PA
Harlequins boss Tabai Matson believes Marcus Smith is on the brink of becoming a world-class fly-half after watching him orchestrate the Sharks’ downfall in a 39-29 Heineken Champions Cup victory.
Smith pulled the strings as Quins clinched their first win in any competition since December 18, their five-point haul in excellent conditions securing a place in the round of 16 and keeping alive the possibility of a home tie.
An ankle problem sidelined Smith for the last two months until his comeback against Racing 92 last weekend and on Monday he will enter the England camp with the aim of retaining the number 10 jersey he wore in the autumn.
“For Marcus to do 80 minutes two games in a row and be in really good physical condition after that injury is phenomenal,” Matson said. “It shows his work ethic, his preparation, because you would never have thought he had that much time out of the game.
“He’s great to watch. He’s clearly a quality player and is verging on being world-class.
“When the conditions are right and he’s got a forward pack that does what it does and we win the physicality battle, he’s always going to look good on the front foot.”
The four-try demolition of a Sharks side that paraded South Africa stars Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche and Lukhanyo Am was the last Quins game overseen by Matson’s assistant Nick Evans before he takes charge of England’s attack for the Six Nations.
“We’ve all been really desperate to play in really good conditions and get back to scoring tries,” Matson said. “On a day like that Nick orchestrated a pretty good gameplan that when it’s executed looks pretty spectacular.
“This win feels really good for a number of reasons. It’s been five weeks since we’ve won so to be back in the winning circle, playing in a manner we’re really proud of and delivering a good performance with five tries. It’s a great feeling.”
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Latest Comments
Can’t wait. Hard to call even with Munster being away. La Rochelle have been so off the boil recently.
Go to commentsPep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.
His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.
How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.
Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.
His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.
Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.
Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.
Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.
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