Marcus Smith delivered the stand-out moment of England’s last campaign, with a last-play drop-goal that snatched victory over Ireland at Twickenham in March.
That replacement appearance, his first Test of the year, was the start of a sparkling run on the international stage.
With George Ford injured, the 25-year-old assumed the 10 shirt for the summer tour and was the brightest point in a drab autumn for England.
Smith’s matador trickery makes him a running threat to rival the best wings.
Among players representing top-10 Test nations last year, only New Zealand’s Mark Tele’a, France’s Damian Penaud and Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe beat defenders more regularly than Smith’s average of 4.5 per 80 minutes.
His game-breaking ability has been central to England’s attack.
He was involved in 12.7% of England’s tries in 2024 – a number that eclipses New Zealand’s Beauden Barrett and most others in the international game, and is all the more impressive considering Smith didn’t start a single Six Nations match.
Part of Borthwick’s mission has been to create a team that excites England fans.
And no-one has done that better than Smith.
When the team was announced to Allianz Stadium in the autumn internationals, his name was cheered loudest.
When fans thought Borthwick was preparing to replace Smith against Australia, their jeers almost matched those decibels.
So, where is the doubt? Where is the duel?
While Marcus Smith has been excellent, results haven’t been.
In the seven matches that he started at 10 last year, England won only two – both against Japan.
Meanwhile, Fin Smith is a precocious understudy.
The 22-year-old plays flat, picking passes and poking holes while close enough to the defensive line to sniff a potential tackler’s pre-match snack.
He steered Northampton to the Premiership title last season, marshalling a backline that includes fellow England internationals Tommy Freeman, George Furbank and Ollie Sleightholme.
If selected, he and Saints’ team-mate Alex Mitchell would form a pre-baked half-back partnership.
While Marcus Smith often operates with a gain-line battering ram at 12, Fin Smith’s usual inside centres – Rory Hutchinson or Fraser Dingwall – more closely match the playmaker skills of Henry Slade, England’s current occupant.
Many of Marcus Smith’s best moments have come in pockets of space that open up behind the backline or after multiple phases – the sort of opportunities that are often easier to access from full-back.
Could the moving parts of the puzzle need another nudge?
In Marcus Smith might England have found their virtuoso soloist, but lumbered him with the conductor’s baton as well?
