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The Dan Carter pointer that augurs well for England rookie Smith
By Liam Heagney
Eddie Jones has hinted that England rookie Marcus Smith could have a glittering Test career ahead of him, especially if he follows the trajectory and longevity that was enjoyed by former All Blacks talisman Dan Carter. The now-retired 39-year-old New Zealander enjoyed a 112-cap Test career that continued on successfully at club level for a number of years after he represented the All Blacks for the last time in the 2015 World Cup final win over Australia.
Carter had three seasons in France at Racing, two at the Steelers in Japan before calling it quits following an injury-hit Super Rugby Aotearoa stint at the Blues in 2020, and his name cropped up when Jones spoke about the growth capabilities that Smith has in front of him now that he is set to make his England debut at the age of 22.
Smith initially featured in an uncapped England XV versus the Barbarians in June 2019 but he has been made to wait 25 months before getting handed the No10 shirt for a Test match which will be played at Twickenham eight days after he lit up the stadium with his gutsy performance in Harlequins' Gallagher Premiership final win over Exeter.
"He is ready now," insisted Jones, explaining the two-year wait that Smith has gone through. "There is a greater degree of consistency about his game. His decision-making has improved, his ability to be effective in defence has improved but he is a very young 10, he is 22 years of age.
"I was just telling some of the senior players there that Dan Carter played his best rugby at 35, so Marcus is really moving in the right direction. We have got another young bloke in Jacob Umaga and George Furbank there. They are all young 10s, they are all learning their craft and they are all moving in the right direction - and Marcus is at the head of the queue at the moment."
It is nearly six years since Jones first clapped eyes on Smith, the coach taking an evening off from coaching Japan at the 2015 World Cup to check out a teenager he first heard about through an acquaintance in Asia. "He is a bright, young talent. I happened to be a social friend of his godfather who I met in Hong Kong. He told me about him and then we had our camp down in Brighton College. It was a Wednesday night, a cold, wet night, and I went and watched them play.
"It might have been the week of the South Africa game and he definitely had some talent. There is plenty of boys with talent, but he has managed to work hard, come up with a game that is only in its infancy at the moment. It is exciting for him to get the opportunity on Sunday and whatever he does on Sunday he will be better the next time he plays."
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It might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
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