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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Gerard Meagher

England’s Borthwick drops Smith for Italy clash and empathises with ‘hurt’

Marcus Smith in training
Marcus Smith has been dropped to allow Owen Farrell’s move to fly-half, with Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade at centre. Photograph: Zac Goodwin/PA

Steve Borthwick has insisted he knows how much Marcus Smith will be hurting after dropping the fly-half because the England coach was previously ditched as captain when on his honeymoon in Bali.

Smith has been omitted from the England side to face Italy on Sunday with Owen Farrell starting at fly-half for the first time in two years, while Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade form an eye-catching centre partnership. Smith had started England’s last 15 matches but Borthwick has again showing his ruthless streak, having already dropped Manu Tuilagi and Ben Youngs from his matchday squad.

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