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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Nick Purewal

Marcus Smith call shows Steve Borthwick’s ruthless edge as biggest test awaits England

Marcus Smith Steve Borthwick Test England Owen Farrell France Tabai Matson George Ford Exeter Harlequins

Steve Borthwick told Marcus Smith he would start against France if he went back to Harlequins and ran the show against Exeter.

Smith kept up his end of the bargain, and in some style, by putting Exeter to the sword in Saturday’s 40-5 Premiership thrashing, and now Borthwick has followed suit.

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