One of the most keenly discussed positional dilemmas before the announcement was fly-half, with Scotland 10 Finn Russell and England duo Fin Smith and Marcus Smith eventually being picked ahead of Ireland’s first-choice stand-off Sam Prendergast, England veteran George Ford and Racing 92’s three-time tourist Owen Farrell.
Head coach Andy Farrell said Marcus Smith’s ability to play at full-back was key.
Smith sees himself primarily as a fly-half, but after starting eight successive matches at 10 for England earlier this season he was shifted to a full-back role that he first occupied at points during the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
“To go with three specialists in that type of position, you are tying yourself a little in knots, compared to if one or two of those could play in different positions,” said Andy Farrell of his fly-half options.
“It isn’t just what happens on a Wednesday night [midweek fixture] on tour, but how you train the next day in preparation for a Test match or whatever. It is a balance.
“If Marcus is a 10/15 or a 15/10, he is not competing with a Sam Prendergast, who is a great player, or George Ford, who is in great form.
“They [Prendergast and Ford] are competing with Finn Russell and Fin Smith.
“Some guys at their clubs wish they weren’t versatile because they are probably not nailing down a position, but when it comes to tours like this and World Cups they are worth their weight in gold.”
