Steve Borthwick has revealed he is giving strong consideration to shifting Marcus Smith to full-back and deploying Freddie Steward on the wing as he plots a course to England’s Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.
Smith has started England’s last seven Tests at fly-half and was their most eye-catching performer during a disappointing autumn in which Borthwick’s side were beaten by New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. With George Furbank injured, however, Borthwick sees merit in moving Smith to the No 15 jersey, which would pave the way for either Fin Smith or George Ford to start at fly-half.
Marcus Smith started at full-back on three occasions during the 2023 World Cup, against Chile, Fiji and the bronze medal victory over Argentina. In the autumn Tests against Australia and Japan, Smith was shifted to full-back in the final quarter and his counterattacking ability from deep is valued by Borthwick.
Steward wore the No 15 jersey in the defeat by South Africa – a selection based on his aerial ability – but Borthwick, who is without wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso for the entire championship, also believes the Leicester Tiger’s “super strength” would be effective on the wing. Elliot Daly offers another option and would bring versatility to a matchday squad, enabling Borthwick to select a 6-2 split on the replacements’ bench and include an extra back-row forward.
“It’s certainly something that I would consider, especially in this contestable game,” said Borthwick. “I know Freddie has got a super strength there. His carry work has [also] been very good. We’ve seen steady improvements. He was challenged a good period ago about developing pace and he’s gone away and worked and he’s got faster and improved his pace. Fred on the wing is certainly a possibility.
“Certainly when you start talking about combinations and you start talking about whether you go 6-2. If you look at the number of players we’ve got in the back row and the quality we have there, you start looking at the possibility of 6-2. And then you start looking at Marcus and where he starts and his versatility, Freddie’s versatility, Elliot Daly’s versatility. I want players who have the ability to move positions.”
Borthwick believes the World Rugby directive to clamp down on “escorts” – players forming a protective barrier around their teammate as they catch the ball – introduced shortly before the autumn Tests has “fundamentally changed the game”. He cited how the directive has led to more contestable kicks and more unstructured situations in which Smith could flourish.
If Smith does start at full-back, namesake Fin could earn a first start after his fine form for Northampton this season. He also caught the eye off the bench against Japan in November. Ford, meanwhile, battled back from a thigh injury but played a bit-part role throughout the campaign. He did, however, start all five of last year’s Six Nations matches.
“We’re seeing two-thirds more unstructured starting points to what the game had before,” Borthwick added. “That high ball catch is really, really important and it’s not just the full-back because you put the full-back one side and people try to target the other side of the pitch. That’s one of the considerations and that becomes tactical when you’re assessing the opposition. When the game does open up and become unstructured, that’s when a player of Marcus’s strength can really take advantage of that space, whether it’s fatigue in the players’ legs, there is more space on the pitch.
“At the start of this Six Nations we want to build on what we were doing last year but also add some other dimensions to our attacking game. You’ve got to put pressure on Ireland’s exits because they’re very good at it. The decision-making of how you return kicks, when you carry back, is also very important.”
Meanwhile, Borthwick will throw the doors open to Andy Farrell, inviting the British & Irish Lions head coach to attend England training during the Six Nations. Borthwick’s predecessor, Eddie Jones, memorably refused to let Warren Gatland visit the camp until after England had played Wales in 2017. Farrell is on sabbatical from Ireland after the Lions tour of Australia, having officially started the role in December.
“I’d be very happy if he wants to come in at any point in time,” said Borthwick. “Every player dreams of playing for the Lions. To not address it would be avoidance of where they’re at. Being in a successful team in a Six Nations and being in a team that is playing well do go hand in hand in the best case for selection. The team playing well, individuals playing well in that team, playing together, allows everyone to achieve that success both collectively and individually. But I’m well aware players will have that on their minds.”
