WE’LL MAKE A MARC
Farrell backs Smith to raise England tempo
OWEN FARRELL is hoping for an autumn passion play from England after hopping on the Marcus Smith bandwagon yesterday.
The bubbly Harlequin is set to wear the No.10 jersey, with Farrell outside him, during the Autumn Nations Series after George Ford’s axing.
The England captain has taken a shine to Smith, revealing the 22-yearold is looking and sounding the part at the squad’s Jersey training camp ahead of the Tests against Tonga, Australia and South Africa.
“It’s his passion for the game – it oozes out of him,” said Farrell (inset).
“He wears his heart on his sleeve and that’s a massive asset. He seems like he is confident, because, for me, he’s done the work.
“Marcus understands the game and knows exactly what he wants to get out of it. He speaks sense and that helps your confidence and helps when it comes to playing in the position that he does.
“He is doing that really well. He can unlock a game himself but he’s also got a brilliant eye for how to make a team work as well.
“You want to make sure he keeps that balance and he has the attitude to do it hopefully for a long time.”
Farrell roomed with Smith when he was an England apprentice and got to know him better when he joined the Lions tour as an injury replacement in the summer. “He is a brilliant lad and he’s not just a very talented player but a proper student of the game,” said Farrell.
“He loves chatting about rugby, so that made it easy for me to get on with him.
“I’m happy to help wherever. Marcus loves trying to understand the game a bit better. If I can help him do that in any way possible, I’d love to.”
After seeing Ford and the Vunipola brothers axed, Farrell, who is set to play his 100th international against the Tongans at Twickenham a week on Saturday, is relieved to be in the squad.
“I have never thought anyone was undroppable,” said Farrell. “You always have to work hard to be in this team.
“You’re waiting for a phone call to see if you’re picked. You don’t want to expect too much.”
Farrell is expecting more from himself this campaign after Eddie Jones’ observation that he underperformed in last season’s Six Nations when England trailed in fifth.
He added: “I’d agree with him. I could have played better. I’d agree there’s parts of my game I want to get back to and do more of.”