This weekend, both will wear the number 10 with their clubs, as usual, for the tough matches in France, in the Investec Champions Cup. But early next month Marcus Smith and Fin Smith will form a new double act for England.
Time will tell how long this will last, but all indications are that Steve Borthwick is preparing to build his England defensive line, at least temporarily, around Smith and Smith; It is not a sister law firm, but a partnership of playmakers. Fin at 10 years old and Marcus at 15: the position was left vacant while George Furbank completes his recovery from a broken arm. Once the Saints captain is fit and available, England's line-up may change again. Long-term planning is unclear. A quick solution is needed.
For now, the never-ending perennial fly-half debate and dilemma is expected to take another turn, as the selection wheel turns once again.
Having made six appearances as a replacement, Fin, 22, is on course to be shoved into the hot seat and asked to run the show. If so, it would be a well-deserved reward for their composure and creativity in orchestrating a Premiership title triumph last season and continuing to showcase their formidable repertoire in the current campaign.
If Borthwick takes this approach, as expected, it would be a meritocratic decision, but arguably not at the ideal time. Circumstances have forced him to do so, after he decided not to test the Smith-Smith alliance at the end of the grueling Autumn Nations Series, for the local banker against Japan. If it had been the slightest seed of an idea in the coaches' minds, it would have been an excellent opportunity to experiment, but it was not taken advantage of.
Instead, England's head coach is now preparing to roll the dice in Dublin, for the first Six Nations match against title holders Ireland on February 1. With that match and Le Crunch at home against France in the first block of matches of the championship, the pressure is on for the strategy to work, or the consequences could be profound.
Marcus Smith looks set to switch to full-back when England's Six Nations campaign begins
Northampton's Fin Smith expected to play at 10 as Steve Borthwick reshuffles his pack
Borthwick is looking for a quick solution but has yet to decide who he wants as his long-term number 10.
Marcus Smith had made the 10 shirt his own during the summer tour of Japan and New Zealand, followed by that ill-fated November campaign, which included defeats against the All Blacks, Australia and South Africa, before the routine demolition of Japan. Over the course of those four Tests, it seemed as if England's attack only sparked when they pulled a rabbit out of a hat. Every positive and threatening moment came from the 25-year-old Harlequin, or so it seemed.
Borthwick pulled him midway through the second half against New Zealand and caused outrage in the stands. Tellingly, Smith played the full 80 games the following week against Australia. But he ended up at full-back when George Ford came on, and he was complicit in the Wallabies' attempt to win the game on the final play when he stepped in to make a tackle, allowing Max Jorgensen to burst through the wide empty channel to land.
The general perception is that the Smiths have significantly different qualities. In short, Fin is seen as a facilitator for others: a driver, an organizer, and a calm head.
By contrast, Marcus is regarded as the handsome maverick, most likely to produce the magical moment, but criticized for not turning on the players around him consistently enough. He is often condemned for being dedicated to flashes of box office brilliance, without being able to drive the team consistently and relentlessly.
According to the latest evidence, the criticism is harsh. In November, Marcus Smith repeatedly voiced the defining moments. Against the All Blacks, he made an interception and a break and then, fatigued, had the presence of mind to delay his pass so Immanuel Feyi-Waboso had a clear run to the line.
Then against the Springboks, Smith faked a goal drop, broke to the blindside and set up a stunning shot for Ollie Sleightholme. It was an act of pure genius against one of the best defenses in the world.
Let's go back a year and the picture was very different. Marcus Smith was due to be in favor at 10 for the start of the Six Nations, but suffered an untimely injury during the pre-championship training camp in Girona. Ford took over at 10 and after a shaky start to the tournament for him and the team, the veteran was outstanding, at the forefront of a tactical liberation.
Ford was good in the one-point victory against Grand Slam-chasing Ireland at Twickenham, and a week later produced a masterful performance as England came close to defeating France in Lyon, playing with a bold freedom that was impressive to watch. contemplate. The Sale player was evidently enthusiastic about the new strategic direction, which allowed him to play close to the line and instinctively.
Marcus Smith was partly to blame for Australia's attempted victory when playing full-back
But he provided a brilliant break and pass to set up a try against New Zealand.
His quick thinking also opened up space for Ollie Sleightholme to land against South Africa.
Such was the magnitude of his personal contribution, Ford was considered to have reaffirmed his dominance in the primary playmaker role. However, an Achilles injury kept him out of the summer tour, allowing Marcus Smith to take the jersey and the initiative once again.
Now another change is coming. Perhaps Borthwick will end up adopting a horse-for-race policy in the way he selects and rotates his 10, depending on circumstances and opposition. This could be interpreted as the curse of the undecided or as a smart solution. The Boks have a similar approach in the way they mix and match, mainly between Manie Libbok and Handre Pollard.
England also has recent history, such as in the 2019 World Cup, when Eddie Jones used Ford and Farrell, then Farrell with Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade against the physical Wallabies, before returning to the Ford-Farrell axis for the semi-finals and final in Japan.
For years; that was the contest and the debate; Farrell or Ford, or both? Jones valued them both, which often meant Ford had 10 and Farrell, even as captain, 12. Then it was Farrell against Marcus Smith. Then it was Farrell and Smith. Then it was Ford vs. Smith, then Smith vs. Smith. Now Smith And Smith.
How will homonyms work together? Well, Magic Marcus played well after being moved to 15 during the last World Cup, although he was beaten by the mighty Fiji in the quarter-finals and Ireland will surely attack him in the air in Dublin.
But he likes to float behind the forward line and look for space, which he could do by acting as a secondary player, with Fin playing closer to the opposition defence. In theory, they could come together well, despite the limited preparation time.
Who will be the main kicker? Fin Smith looked shaky in that regard last Sunday before winning the game against Bath with a last-minute penalty for Northampton. Marcus Smith has been a revelation off the tee since missing three crucial shots against the All Blacks in Dunedin. He has had 27 of his last 28 shots on target and credits Jonny Wilkinson and club-mate Leigh Halfpenny, the former Wales and Lions full-back and top scorer.
There is a defensive factor, as part of the selection equation. Fin Smith is a force in this area and that will not go unnoticed by Borthwick. He was on hand to see rookie Saint deliver a statement hit on Bath flanker Miles Reid at Franklin's Gardens last weekend, demonstrating his power and desire to impose himself both off and off the ball.
Marcus and Fin Smith have different strengths and Borthwick needs to decide what he wants.
He needs to make a decision on his kicker after Fin Smith's shaky display off the tee last week.
George Ford is not out of the number 10 either, having earned 98 caps for his country.
There is an ownership aspect to all of this. Who really runs the show? In Cape Town in 2018, Jones picked Danny Cipriani at No. 10, but Farrell stepped up as captain to almost force the flyhalf out of the game. When Farrell and Smith joined forces, it created a difficult dynamic, with the feeling that the older man was always looking over the younger man's shoulder.
Marcus Smith is the established one. He has won test matches. He has played in a World Cup and on a Lions tour. Fin Smith is still finding his way at the highest level. Dublin is a difficult place for anyone who wants to start working in their country. For all his acclaimed authority and confidence at a young age, it will be a daunting scenario.
Don't count out Ford. At 31 years old, he is not out of the scene, far from it. He is recovering from a minor hip injury but is just two matches away from a Test century. If the two Smiths perform together in Dublin and against France at Twickenham seven days later, he is unlikely to have a match day role as Borthwick will not need three starts in turn on the 23rd. But Ford will be too good to finish it. He remains the best judge of timing and depth of passes in English rugby.
It seems that when it comes to the never-ending debate over the number 10, difficult decisions have often been dodged. Ways have been found to circumvent it. But when Furbank returns, as it will, what then? What if it really works? What if it's a disaster? At some point, Borthwick knows he will have to make an important decision. The Smith and Smith option has the feel of a stopgap or fourth-quarter trump card, rather than a long-term formula.