Marcus Smith made his Harlequins return last weekend, in their Big Game 14 victory over Exeter Chiefs. Smith was dropped from Steve Borthwick’s England squad last week, and responded with an inspired Player of the Match performance.
The fly half lit up Twickenham Stadium, as Harlequins cruised to a 40-5 win over Exeter Chiefs. Quins’ teammate Danny Care spoke after the match, and believes that Smith should be selected in the England team to face France this Saturday in the Six Nations.
“I was pleased that he was with us this week. He might have played too well that we might not have him next week.
“I know it well, but the character that he is, he’s so mature for his age, he’s dealt with it the perfect way you can. Get stuck in with us this week, show what you can do, and it’s up to Steve and the coaches to decide the game plan for the weekend against the French.
“I’m not the coach, but I think you’ve got to go and attack a French team. I don’t think you can sit back and kick everything. So, I’d be picking a team that would play quickly and play aggressive rugby. And If I was the coach he’d be in my team.”
The 36-year-old mentioned how he too has been through the England selection wringer, as Care was a rotational fringe player under Eddie Jones, as the former England Head coach preferred Ben Youngs at scrum half when in charge. Care believes that Smith has responded in the best way possible, ahead of a potential re-calling to the England squad.
“He’s in a tough position, it’s a tough position for him. The captain in that England team is the 10, annoyingly for him. But, I think testament to his character as to how he went out there and played today. He could have tried to throw a load of things to show (Steve Borthwick.) Special things, he did his special things, and he also did the basics incredibly well.
I don’t know how many tackles he made, but he put his body on the line for the team. And he put us in the right areas, and then the magic bits that he makes look so easy, he does anyway. So, hopefully you get to see that in an England 10 shirt soon, but we’ll see.”
Care recognised how Smith’s competition for the 10 shirt is a world class calibre player. The most-capped Harlequins player appreciates the qualities that Owen Farrell brings to the England squad, and why Steve Borthwick is selecting the Saracen to lead the line. Yet Care things that there is certainly room for his teammate Smith in the match-day side.
“If he (Smith) keeps performing like that, he can’t be ignored for that long. But, I can completely understand what Steve is trying to do in this short space of time, it’s get the basics incredibly well, and pick a team that he probably knows. He knows Owen (Farrell), he knows Owen inside and out, and I know Owen’s a brilliant player, so it’s hard to not pick Owen.
“And if anyone’s ever been in an environment when Owen’s around, it’s hard to not pick him. Because, he’s that good of a leader, and he drives everything.
“So, I still think that the two can work in tandem the best, you can get the best performance out of a 10 shirt with either of them starting, with either of them coming off the bench. It just depends which team you’re playing.
“Like I say, I’m not the England coach, but I think Marcus has done everything he could today to keep knocking on the door.”