- Playing Marcus Smith in Full -Back has not worked for England, and here is why Steve Borthwick has felt the need to change it against Italy
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Steve Borthwick's decision to leave Marcus Smith to the bank for Sunday's game with Italy will get a lot of media coverage before the weekend.
I understand that due to the state that Marcus has in the English rugby as possibly the best and most high -profile player in the country.
But, if you eliminate all external noise and observe the situation objectively, then it is a movement that makes sense.
Let's be honest. If we call it as we see it, it is clear that Marcus is not an international support. What it is, is a world of world class that is so good in certain areas that it has the ability to play 15 if necessary.
There is a big difference between the two.
I feel sorry for Marcus. It cannot be easy for him. He clearly wants to play no 10, but he has seen that his position changed in these six nations.
Steve Borthwick's decision to leave Marcus Smith objectively a movement that makes sense
Smith has been unfortunate that George Furbank's injury led him to move to 15 in a rejig
While Marcus Smith offers more attack intention, it has been attacked by the sides in the air
Once again, if we are honest, this situation would not have happened if George Furbank would have been fit for this championship. He is England's first option and if he hadn't been injured, I'm sure he would have started with Marcus in No 10. That would not have meant space for end Smith.
But with Furbank out, Borthwick has had to have a rejig. England has won his last two games with the two Smith together: Marcus at 15 and end at 10.
Despite those victories, Borthwick has felt the need to change it. Marcus has been in the background to provide more attack intentions than Freddie Steward.
It has not worked at all. Marcus has been attacked by the sides in the air and among all sharp reactions, one thing that has been lost is that Italy is a side that kicks a lot to compete. Borthwick would have known. And that probably explains why Elliot Daly has entered, as well as the fact that it has been very good from the bank in these six nations so far too.
What will frustrate Marcus is that during the fall, I thought he was the best player in England and that he was in the middle of the games.
England lost three games to overcome southern hemisphere teams by narrow margins. But they didn't do it for Marcus.
In fact, if it had not been for him, dragging England to those games, the scores would have been very worse. Clearly, Marcus will be very, very disappointed.
But it will return and it seems quite clear to me that England's debate is not going to run and run for a while. The other great call from England for Italy is to leave Henry Slade completely.
Smith will be frustrated having been England's best player when he is in the middle of the fly in autumn
Henry Slade has been completely withdrawn in another great call made by Borthwick ahead of Italy
Fraser Dingwall enters the side next to Ollie Lawrence to the coast of England defensively
My former Northampton Fraser Dingwall teammate has entered Ollie Lawrence in the center. Again, I can understand this decision, a call as big as it is.
I still feel that England is enormously vulnerable to the defensive on Channel 13 and Borthwick would have wanted to underpin that against Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello.
Do not be misunderstood, Borthwick has made significant selection decisions. And as always as an international coach, he will live and die for them.
But, I can see where it comes from. England now needs to win and win well.
If they do not and Marcus is kicking the heels in the bank, there could be problems!