ENGLAND will unleash a double dose of Smiths against France on Saturday – hoping the duo will be even hotter than the Curry twins.
Coach Steve Borthwick has opted to give Northampton stand off Fin Smith, 22, his debut Red Rose start, handing him the 10 shirt as England aim to bounce back from their opening defeat in Ireland.
GettySteve Borthwick is preparing for a big change to his personnel against France[/caption]
PABorthwick has opted to give Fin Smith his England debut start[/caption]
GettyMarcus Smith will return to full-back as a result[/caption]
That will see namesake Marcus, who has started the last eight games as England’s playmaker, reverting to full-back in an altered and attacking back line.
Borthwick was forced into one change after a foot injury ruled out winger Cadan Murley, scorer of the opening try in the 27-22 defeat in Dublin.
But his decision to go for broke is another bold but potentially risky gamble after the selection of twins Ben and Tom Curry alongside Ben Earl in the back row in Ireland worked brilliantly for 40 minutes before England crumbled.
France’s kicking game will test all of England’s defensive resolve but Borthwick is determined to roll the dice again.
Attack coach Richard Wigglesworth hinted at the team revamp as he said: “With Marcus at 15 he’s another set of eyes that are very opportunistic.
“His thinking is always ‘Where’s the space? Who can I beat?’. And that’s what he’ll bring.
“Fin has had less chances than Marcus or George Ford until now but he is really clear with his game, he is confident without being arrogant and wants to get better.
“He has all the things that you associate with top 10s, what he wants to do and how to best position the team. I’ve been super impressed with him, as I have with Marcus and Fordy.”
GettyAttack coach Richard Wigglesworth has said Fin Smith is ‘confident without being arrogant’[/caption]
2025 Six Nations Fixtures & TV Schedule
Round 1
France v Wales | January 31 at 8.15pm | ITV
Scotland v Italy | February 1 at 2.15pm | BBC
Ireland v England | February 1 at 4.45pm | ITV
Round 2
Italy v Wales | February 8 at 2.15pm | ITV
England v France | February 8 at 4.45pm | ITV
Scotland v Ireland | February 9 at 3pm | BBC
Round 3
Wales v Ireland | February 22 at 2.15pm | BBC
England v Scotland | February 22 at 4.45pm | ITV
Italy v France | February 23 at 3pm | ITV
Round 4
Ireland v France | March 8 at 2.15pm | ITV
Scotland v Wales | March 8 at 4.45pm | BBC
England v Italy | March 9 at 3pm | ITV
Round 5
Italy v Ireland | March 15 at 2.15pm | ITV
Wales v England | March 15 at 4.45pm | BBC
France v Scotland | March 15 at 8pm | ITV
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The loss of Murley is likely to see Freddie Steward taking his place on the left wing and centre Henry Slade, expected to keep his place in midfield alongside Ollie Lawrence, is backing Northampton fly half Smith to flourish on his big chance.
Exeter man Slade added: “Fin sees space really well.
“There’s always going to be space on the field somewhere; you can’t defend everything. I feel like he sees it really well.
“He’s a slightly different 10 to Marcus, because Marcus has got that X factor in terms of beating a man one-on-one and all that stuff.
“But Fin is very measured. He speaks very well and finds space very well. That’s a big part of the role, moving the team around to where they need to be on the pitch. He’s been really good at that.”
The Northampton stand off has had to be patient, with seven caps off the bench since making his first appearance against Italy in last season’s Six Nations as a late replacement for Ford.
Now he is handing the reins to guide the England Chariot for the first time.
Slade said: “The patience he’s shown has been key, really.
“It can be frustrating early in your career, but the longer you’re in the camp, the longer you get comfortable with the environment, the more confident you get.
“So it can be tough being a younger guy coming up through.
“The ones that do the best are the ones that really embrace it and have the confidence to speak up and show what gets them selected in the first place.
“Now the way he speaks in meetings or speaks around the place, where he is on the pitch, he feels really confident.
“We’re very lucky we’ve got three 10s who are brilliant communicators and very confident in what they’re trying to do for the team.”
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Henry Slade has backed Fin Smith to shineSportsfile Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
