13 October 2023 , 18:31
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Marcus Smith has Joe Marler convinced he will thrive on the biggest stage when he starts England’s World Cup quarter-final at fullback.
The Harlequins fly-half has only ever begun one game in the position yet is handed the No.15 jersey ahead of Freddie Steward, fullback in World Rugby’s 2022 team of the year. It is an incredible rise and would appear a gamble by Steve Borthwick were it not for the endorsement of England prop Marler.
For Smith’s eccentric clubmate was also his harshest critic when he first joined Quins, none too complimentary and among the last to afford the teenager respect: “I was like, he's a jumped up, entitled, little private school kid," Marler recalled. "To the point I thought ‘I'm going to have to say something to this guy, he's gobbing off at me.
“‘I've been here 10 years and he's gobbing off at me. ‘You've gotta get here, you've gotta get there’. Driving standards. I was a little bit like, who are you? Then you realise how good he is at rugby, that he knows what he's talking about and why he’s doing what he’s doing. I was like, ‘Okay, I'm going to listen to him’.”
Which brings us to the 67,000-capacity Stade Velodrome on Sunday, Smith’s first World Cup knockout game and England’s biggest match for four years: “I'm full of confidence in Marcus’ ability to thrive on that stage, albeit in the 15 shirt,” is Marler's verdict. “To have the talent he has, I'm full of confidence he'll perform.
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"What stands out for me is his drive - he's obsessed with wanting to be the best every single day - is infectious around the group. He and Owen [Farrell] are similar in that respect.”
HAVE YOUR SAY! Will England beat Fiji? Comment below.
Marcus Smith will be out to impress for England (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)Talk of in-camp excellence is all well and good, but this weekend is all about the result against opponents who won at Twickenham when the nations met just seven weeks ago. Fiji are a serious team. The likes of Levani Botia, Viliame Mata, Josua Tuisova, Semi Radradra and captain Waisea Nayacalevu would walk into this England side.
But the loss of fly half Teti Tela is big, given it leaves third choice Vilimoni Botitu starting at 10 for only the third time - and up against England totem Farrell. Concerns the Red Rose brigade are a team out of sorts after almost losing to Samoa have been lessened by Fiji’s loss to Portugal on the same weekend.
The Pacific Islanders will play on emotion after deaths to family members of two of the team, but they are far more than just big bangers. Of the two teams their discipline has been the better. England must improve at the breakdown, somehow beat Botia to the punch and provide a flow of ball faster than we have seen to date.
The bookies clearly favour them yet it is a knife-edge call. Farrell’s men should win, but we’ve said that before.