Marcus Smith is expected to make a first start at full-back for England against Chile on Saturday while Owen Farrell is poised to return as captain.
England supporters who booed England’s kick-heavy approach against Japan would be delighted to see Smith lining up at No 15 but sources close to the 24-year-old have questioned why he is not being given a chance at fly-half. Instead, Steve Borthwick is expected to turn to Farrell, available again after suspension, with George Ford dropping to the bench.
Smith impressed in an 11-minute cameo at full-back against Japan last weekend – just as he did in the warm-up fixtures against Ireland and Fiji – but has never started a professional match there. He last started for England No 10 against Wales in their opening World Cup warm-up match but has fallen down the fly-half pecking order behind Farrell and Ford.
The positional move was suggested to Smith by Kevin Sinfield, the defence coach, over the summer but Richard Wigglesworth, the attack coach, was full of praise for how he has handled the transition. “I think [Marcus has] been really smart with how he has done it,” he said.
“One, he wants the ball. He is desperate to get his hands on the ball first and foremost. But he’s been really smart with where he positions himself, how he gets it, and hasn’t tried to play like a No 10 out wide. He’s gone: ‘Get me the ball, and then I’ll play on.’ Then he’ll use the capability he’s got with his feet and his acceleration. It’s really testament to him about how smart he is.”
Farrell, meanwhile, is available again after his four-match suspension came to an end and is expected to captain the side. Ford has been one of England’s standout performers to date and has kicked 41 points in their two matches but, barring any late change of heart before Borthwick names his team on Thursday, will drop to the bench to accommodate the return of Farrell, who has not played in more than a month.
While Ford has delivered two polished performances so far, the decision to start with two playmakers should increase England’s attacking options. There is also the possibility that all three fly-halves will appear together at some point – a prospect that Wigglesworth confirmed was under consideration following England’s victory over Japan which took them to the verge of the quarter-finals.
“It’s not unthinkable but it is about what else is around them,” he said. “If we have absolute runners around them and that is their skill set, we want to upskill as many guides as possible to see the picture early and be able to execute things. So I don’t think it is unthinkable, but you have to have a balance around them.”
Farrell’s return is a boost for Borthwick given the influence he has over the team but the head coach is likely to want to see Ford and his captain dovetail in the 10-12 partnership that was so integral to England reaching the final in 2019. Under Borthwick they have only managed five minutes on the pitch together before Farrell was sent off against Wales at Twickenham last month.
Elsewhere, Borthwick is expected to rest a number of frontline players with Jack Willis and David Ribbans set for first appearances of the tournament. The hooker Theo Dan is also in line for a second England start. Billy Vunipola is also likely to come into the side after appearing off the bench against Japan following the end of his suspension.
