Marcus Smith’s Friday night face-off with George Ford was always going to be billed as an England audition of sorts.
But Owen Farrell’s decision to step back from Test duty for the Six Nations leaves a No10 shirt that needs filling.
Smith will go up against Ford when Quins host Sale in tomorrow night’s Premiership clash at The Stoop, in another box-office battle of the playmakers.
Sale star Ford might be the next cab off England’s fly-half rank, given his vast experience and his vice-captain status at the Rugby World Cup.
Harlequins see things slightly differently however, with coaches and teammates all backing their man for greater and greater England influence.
Rugby director Billy Millard and free-scoring wing Cadan Murley both see Smith boasting the tenacity and drive required to blossom into England’s frontline 10.
Smith lit up the World Cup with a sequence of smart showings in the new position of full-back, but has always had his eyes set on England’s fly-half role.
“He’s an extremely impressive guy, very driven, can add a lot of lightness and fun to the environment as well, but from a young age he’s prepared to drive standards,” Millard told Standard Sport. “And he showed it at the World Cup, we were so proud of him, but he’s so tough.
“He’s a handsome young man with a great hairstyle, but he’s got some genuine toughness and a competitive streak that always come out.
“Almost every game Marcus will be coming up against a quality 10. It’s pretty cool for these guys when they are playing against friends that they play with in other teams.”
Farrell might be out of the selection conversation for the Six Nations, but the World Cup captain will most likely be back in Test action in due course.
Murley has spent time in the England set-up and seen first-hand how closely Farrell, Ford and Smith all work together. And the Quins wing has every confidence that Smith has all the credentials to make that England 10 shirt his own in the long run.
“Owen Farrell, George Ford and Marcus, they’ve got one thing in common, they all love rugby, they’re all rugby nauses and they just always want to learn,” Murley told Standard Sport.
“They all have different aspects as their main strengths, if you put the three together maybe you’d have the perfect blend. They’re all willing to learn, ask each other questions, all big leaders, they’ve got their own voice.
“Marcus is a bit younger than the other two, but he’s just as good a leader as well. So it’s an interesting dynamic, but I think it worked really well at the World Cup. Marcus really relishes the opportunity to learn from them.”
Quins will be looking to hit back to winning ways tomorrow after two straight league defeats, but last year’s beaten finalists Sale sit top of the table.
Boss Millard insisted Quins will be looking to vent some frustrations after last weekend’s narrow 36-33 loss at Northampton – and the 38-10 home reverse to Saracens from the week before.
“Getting the points in this game would be so big for us,” said Millard.
“It would really complement the two points we got in defeat at Northampton. It’s a short season and you’ve got to keep getting points.”
