England’s World Cup campaign is gathering pace and after a five-star showing from Henry Arundell and a sprinkling of stardust from Marcus Smith that suggested this might not be the last we see of him in the No 15 jersey, Steve Borthwick’s side will head for their rest week in contented mood. If it is a stretch to describe this fixture against Chile as a potential banana skin, this was England feasting on low-hanging fruit to chalk up a third straight victory in France.
Arundell helped himself to five tries, becoming the first England player to do so since Josh Lewsey in 2003 and the fourth in their history, but it was Smith’s moment of magic that produced the try of the match. Taking a fizzed pass from Owen Farrell, who enjoyed as composed a return to the side as he could have hoped for, Smith swiftly moved through the gears, pinned back his ears, chased his own grubber and splashed over on the stroke of half-time.
