England
Marcus Smith
Smith’s dynamic flair and emotional passion have caught Gatland’s eye:
“He is thriving having had a run of games with England too. I sometimes get criticised for being a bit stoic and not showing emotion but that is not who I am. I love seeing players who are different, and players who celebrate. I love seeing the emotion Marcus puts into his game when he scores tries, or when he makes a pass and his team scores a try.”
Smith, 25, has continued to grow as a playmaker for England, dazzling with his creativity and exciting style of play. He has become a fan favourite for club and country his fearless approach to the game.
George Furbank
Another Englishman Gatland admires is somewhat surprisingly Northampton captain Furbank, who has had a breakout year in the full-back role:
“A player I really admire. As an attacking threat he is quick, he has got great footwork, he can open teams up but he is also tough as well. You should not underestimate him in terms of his size and power. He has been a revelation for England this year. Freddie Steward can bring a different set of skills at full-back but George has an X-factor about him. You have seen that in the tries he has scored and the breaks he has made for Northampton. He has a huge six months ahead of him.”
Furbank, 27, has made a case for his versatility and attacking prowess, challenging the established hierarchy in the England squad.
