England ace Marcus Smith’s potential to cowl each fly-half and full-back is without doubt one of the driving components in his inclusion for the British and Irish Lions squad, in accordance with boss Andy Farrell.
The 2021 vacationer has spent the majority of his profession within the fly-half shirt, however in latest occasions has additionally been seen within the 15 shirt too, notably enjoying there for 4 of England’s Six Nations Assessments this 12 months.
‘Marcus isn’t competing with George Ford or Sam Prendergast’
Fly-half, and significantly the usage of Smith, was one in every of many hotly contested spots in Farrell’s touring celebration. Finn Russell and Smith’s England teammate Fin Smith appeared the 2 likeliest to make the reduce, however round that Owen Farrell, Sam Prendergast and George Ford had been additionally in competition.
Smith’s title was additionally thrown into the ring, primarily as a utility possibility although, and Farrell detailed that it is without doubt one of the key components behind his choice inside his 38-man squad.
“Marcus isn’t competing with George Ford or Sam Prendergast, as a result of he can play 10,15 or 15, 10. These lads are competing with Finn (Russell) and Fin (Smith),” the top coach mentioned.
Andy Farrell bombshell as TWO British and Irish Lions spots stay with door ajar for son Owen
British and Irish Lions squad: Winners and losers as ‘chosen one’ Maro Itoje ‘enters corridor of rugby immortals’ whereas ‘golden boy’ misses out
He added: “For a participant who will get considered in a few totally different positions, you’d assume ‘I need to nail down a place’ or ‘I need to be a starter’ and so forth, however what it does do for a tour like this; everyone knows the schedule, it’s concerning the preparation, the coaching and generally individuals having the ability to slot into a special place as a result of with all of the permutations that might occur.”
X-factor Smith
Smith has had a turbulent season, each at membership and Check degree, however he nonetheless stays one of many brightest attacking threats in Europe. Throughout the Six Nations, Smith made a staggering 366 metres ball-in-hand from his 44 carries – a median of 8.32 metres per carry – beat 13 defenders and made three linebreaks as effectively.
That’s greater than matched together with his numbers for Harlequins too, with Smith notching a fair higher 497 meters from his 75 carries – a median of 6.63 per carry – crushed 34 defenders and making 10 linebreaks.
His attacking output has not been ignored by Farrell both, and the top coach detailed that that is one of the best event to unleash him.
“It’s superior,” he mentioned. “I feel we’ve all seen that (he has X-factor). He relishes the event, and there’s none greater than a Lions tour.”
READ MORE: ‘In case you’re adequate, you’re sufficiently old’ – Andy Farrell explains Henry Pollock’s British and Irish Lions choice
