Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

The 'seething' reply Mike Brown gave when asked about Marcus Smith

(Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)

Former Test full-back Mike Brown has admitted that he understands why England are currently selecting Owen Farrell as their No10 but he reckoned Marcus Smith would have been seething to only get a few seconds off the bench in the Guinness Six Nations win over Wales.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 20-10 victory over the Welsh was already in the 80th minute when head coach Steve Borthwick made a triple substitution for the final play, sending on Smith, Henry Arundell and Jack Walker for what essentially were token caps.

This lack of involvement has resulted in Smith returning to Harlequins to get some Gallagher Premiership game time this Saturday ahead of preparations for the March 11 England match at home to France.

Video Spacer

Mike Brown and Ollie Lawrence | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 66

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 1:04:06
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 1:04:06
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
    • en (Main), selected
    Video Spacer

    Mike Brown and Ollie Lawrence | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 66

    Asked on RugbyPass Offload how p***ed of Smith would have been at getting approximately 28 seconds for England versus Wales, Brown said: “Knowing Marcus the way I do, he is ultra-competitive – that is what makes him so good – so he will be seething.

    “He wants to be the main man. He wants to be out there, he wants to be representing England. That is why he works so hard. He is an ultra-competitor as well, he wants to be in the battle, in the competition.

    Related

    “Yeah, he would have been desperate to get on as soon as possible. I didn’t get that, going on for that short amount of time. The only thing I could think was they could have got a bonus point and they had a scrum and maybe they thought they could get something out the backside and go the length and get that bonus point when the game was already wrapped up.”

    Currently at Leicester, Brown was a teammate of Smith at Harlequins before moving to Newcastle in the summer of 2021. He was also a long-time colleague of Farrell with England, so he is perfectly placed to discuss the merits of the current Test selection where Farrell is now the starting No10 with Smith on the bench.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “To be fair to Owen he has started this season with Saracens unbelievably well. He dipped off last season and I definitely was one of his critics, but he has been brilliant for Sarries at the start of this year whereas Marcus had a few injuries and probably hasn’t hit the ground running as much as he would like to.

    “If you are going on form, probably Owen. If you are going off the way they [England] want to play, clearly it’s Owen and he is the captain. They [Smith and Farrell as a 10/12 combination] definitely weren’t working well together. I said that from the off knowing the personalities they have and the way they like to play, it just clashes.

    “So it wasn’t working and I am glad Steve has made that big decision – you put one of them at 10 and the other one on the bench. Unfortunately for Marcus at the moment it’s Owen (who is starting). Things can change but I can’t see it happening at the moment.

    “If you look at that backline, if you had Jack van Poortvliet, Marcus and Ollie (Lawrence), it’s quite a young, inexperienced nine, 10, 12 as well so that probably plays on the coach’s mind, especially with such a short time where they have got to get some wins and confidence.”

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Men's Highlights

    HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Women's Highlights

    Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

    Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

    Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry? | New Zealand & Australia | Sevens Wonders | Episode 5

    Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

    The Rise of Kenya | The Report

    The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

    Trending on RugbyPass

    Comments

    0 Comments
    Be the first to comment...

    Join free and tell us what you really think!

    Sign up for free
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Latest Features

    Comments on RugbyPass

    N
    Natashajason 5 hours ago
    Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders

    TRACE HACKER'S CRYPTO RECOVERY IS A GENUINE CRYPTO RECOVERY COMPANY


    It was a cold morning when I first realized the full extent of my loss. I had invested 150,000 euros into an online crypto platform, believing in their promises and the allure of quick financial success. But as the days passed, I discovered it was all a scam. My money was gone, and with it, my dreams of financial security.

    The feeling of helplessness and devastation was overwhelming. I tried everything to recover my funds contacting authorities, searching for solutions online, and connecting with others who had been through similar scams—but nothing seemed to work. I felt completely lost, as though there was no way back.One Sunday, feeling utterly defeated, I decided to visit Grace Church in Dublin, Ireland. I was searching for some peace and comfort. During the service, I shared my story with the congregation, explaining how I had been scammed and lost everything. I didn’t expect much—just a chance to speak to someone.

    Afterward, a fellow parishioner came up to me. He had been listening closely, and after hearing my situation, he shared that he had once been in a similar place.

    He had fallen victim to a scam too, and like me, thought his money was gone for good. But someone had recommended a service called TRACE HACKER'S CRYPTO RECOVERY to him. He decided to reach out to them, and with their help, he had managed to recover his lost funds.

    He suggested I contact them, believing they could help me too.

    Though I was skeptical, I was also desperate, so I wrote down their contact information. That evening, I called TRACE HACKER'S CRYPTO RECOVERY. From the moment we spoke, I felt a sense of professionalism and empathy that I hadn’t encountered before. They didn’t treat me like just another case. They listened to my story, took my concerns seriously, and reassured me that they would do everything they could to help.The recovery process was detailed and transparent. They kept me updated regularly, explaining each step they were taking. Weeks passed, and though I was anxious, I held onto hope. Then, out of nowhere, I received the incredible news: TRACE HACKER'S CRYPTO RECOVERY had successfully recovered 95% of my 150,000 euros. It felt like a miracle. I couldn’t believe it. Thanks to the team at TRACE HACKER'S CRYPTO RECOVERY, I was able to regain my financial footing and rebuild emotionally. I’m now more cautious than ever, but I’m also deeply grateful.

    Without the kind recommendation from that parishioner at Grace Church, I would never have found the help I so desperately needed.

    Today, I’m on the path to full recovery, and I can confidently say that TRACE HACKER'S CRYPTO RECOVERY gave me a second chance.

    Their dedication and expertise truly made all the difference in my life.

    Email:support @ tracehackerscryptorecovery. com

    Email: info @ tracehackerscryptorecovery. com

    Whatsapp: +447 35570 2876

    Website:https:// tracehackers cryptorecovery. com/

    4 Go to comments
    TRENDING
    TRENDING 'We offered him a three-year deal': Hurricanes priced out of U20 star Hurricanes priced out of U20 star
    Search