Sitting in the bowels of Twickenham on Monday, Steve Borthwick spoke about his excitement about No 10 big men Marcus and Fin Smith leading a new-look England team this summer.
In doing so, the national coach made sharp comments suggesting he plans to continue the aggressive approach that impressed him after this year’s Six Nations.
‘The pace of training last week was higher than we’ve ever seen and it tells us a bit more about the direction this team is taking in terms of athleticism and dynamics,’ Borthwick said.
‘It’s a bit different from a few years ago. It’s a different type of team. It’s a new team now. And that will be reflected in the way we play.’
Hallelujah. After a thrilling win over Ireland in March and a narrow loss to France a week later, England finally lifted the handbrake.
Steve Borthwick has thanked two young stars for helping usher in a new era of dynamism.
Finn Smith (pictured) and Marcus Smith have played key roles in England’s fan-friendly development.
Marcus Smith has delivered some of the most exciting performances of his young career for Harlequins this season.
They played with speed, accuracy and panache and scored brilliant tries. Despite the defeat at Lyon on the final weekend of the Six Nations, there were important and welcome signs that Borthwick has evolved England’s methods away from the boring, kick-centric game plan England’s supporters have become accustomed to.
At the time, I hoped that this kind of performance would become common. The challenge now is for England to continue down that path.
One of the Smith duo will take the number 10 reins for the meeting with Japan in Tokyo, and with two July Tests against New Zealand after George Ford was ruled out with an Achilles injury, England face a new era in both aspects. I’m doing it. Personnel and play style.
“We expect Marcus and Fin to be successful and seize the opportunity,” said Borthwick.
‘They are two world-class halves. It’s great to have two players like that at our disposal.’ With Ford Lame and Owen Farrell now ineligible for international action having moved to France, the two Smiths represent England’s playmaking future. Borthwick presented them with a challenge.
It will be interesting to see which of the two will be the first choice. Both are great young talents and Borthwick, who could lead the new dawn of English rugby, seems very keen to deliver.
England’s summer squad certainly has a new feel to it.
Fin Baxter, Gabriel Oghre, Joe Carpenter, Tom Roebuck, Ollie Sleightholme and Luke Northmore are the six unrestricted players in the 36-man party, captained once again by experienced hooker Jamie George. The inclusion of Wing Sleightholme is probably the most eye-catching of the new faces.
Owen Farrell’s ineligibility after leaving Saracens for France has opened up opportunities for England’s emerging playmakers.
George Ford’s injury has ruled him out of the summer Tests against Japan or New Zealand.
A number of new faces have joined the squad, including Fin Baxter (left) and Gabriel Oghre (right).
He ended the domestic season as the Gallagher Premiership’s top scorer with 15 goals, after helping Northampton win their first league title in 10 years alongside Fin Smith.
Borthwick hinted that Saints’ Fin Smith and Harlequins’ Marcus Smith could be seen on the field at the same time, given their ability to play as full-backs. He also pointed out that the cohesion provided by the six Northampton defenders in his team could be significant due to their brief appearance in the Japan game on June 22.
This significantly increases Fin Smith’s chances of becoming a starting pitcher.
‘I started George in all five Six Nations games. There is certainly a chance for another starting fly-half to play against Japan,’ Borthwick said.
‘There’s a chance for that fly-half to really grab this team and take them forward. Marcus is a number 10 player who can play number 15. This gives us the ability to potentially have a situation where Finn and Marcus are on the field together.’ Borthwick’s praise for Fin Smith, who had a breakthrough campaign and won his first two England caps from the bench in the Six Nations, was spot on.
‘The first time I met him was shortly after I took on this role,’ says Borthwick.
‘It was at a hotel reception just outside Oxford. What surprised me was how eager and ambitious he was to compete at the highest level. It was really impressive.’
Whether Smith dominates this England team, don’t expect Borthwick’s men to play Harlem Globetrotters style rugby. The heat of Tokyo in June and the New Zealand winter will create tricky conditions to which Britain will have to adapt. But the intention seems clear.
Senior England figures such as Ellis Genge and Elliot Daly have also been absent this summer. Genge suffered a calf injury and Daly recently welcomed her first child.
But Borthwick brought back Tom Currie despite the Sale flanker making just one substitute appearance this season after recovering from a serious hip injury. Rugby sales director Alex Sanderson questioned whether it was right to include Curry given his lack of club time and past injury history.
‘Tom is a world-class player. ‘Anyone who saw him come off the bench in the Premier League semi-final would know how affected he was,’ Borthwick said.
‘The respective medical and strength and conditioning teams in Sale and England have been in contact with Tom for a long time. All reports I have received suggest that Tom is in fantastic physical condition. The most important thing was my conversation with Tom. We talked about this series.
‘This is a player who desperately wants to be part of the England team and plays in these games.
Meanwhile, Tom Curry is back in action after his season was cut short due to injury.
‘Because of that and the fact that he is world-class, it was a very simple decision.’
England’s summer squad met on Monday and trained at Twickenham on Tuesday before flying to the Far East the following day, ahead of a reunion with former manager Eddie Jones, who is now in charge of Japan for the second time. Then New Zealand will wait.
The All Blacks in particular will pose a stern challenge to England’s next generation.
But whatever happens, it seems Borthwick’s men won’t die of curiosity. And that’s honestly a most welcome development.
