Marcus Smith has been here before. It is the week that France are coming to Twickenham and the Harlequins playmaker is the subject of a huge selection call. In 2023, it was his promotion to the starting side at Owen Farrell’s expense; in 2025, it is his shifting to full-back to accommodate Fin Smith’s first international start at fly-half.
It was Kevin Sinfield who first suggested exploring the attacking potential that moving the Harlequin to full-back might create. During the 2023 World Cup, with England looking to find ways to maximise their offensive options amid the development of a limited kick-pressure-led gameplan, the rugby league legend and then-defence coach convinced Steve Borthwick to give it a try. Three starts at the position, including in the quarter-final against Fiji, brought three wins.
