Slade and Tuilagi partnership could bring best out of Smith
Unless Eddie Jones springs his funkiest back-line surprise yet by starting either George Furbank or even Max Malins at fly-half, it seems Marcus Smith will take the reins against South Africa alongside a centre pairing of Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade.
That would appear to be the most balanced midfield England can pick. Mark Atkinson looked assured against Tonga and may feature from the bench as well. Jones has previously admitted that, with the benefit of hindsight, he would not have stuck with George Ford, Owen Farrell and Tuilagi for the World Cup final in 2019. Instead, after the triumph over New Zealand, he would have reverted to the Farrell, Tuilagi, Slade trio that helped oust Australia.
Tuilagi and Slade had already added a fine victory in Dublin to their portfolio to start the 2019 Six
Nations. They have continued to build on their relationship this autumn. In England’s opening fixture, their inter-play – the distribution of Slade allied to the running threat of Tuilagi – allowed Furbank to put a roaming back three in space.
Malins could be added to the lineup this week now that the Saracen is fit again. We know how South Africa will probe England’s back-field coverage. A trio of Jonny May, Freddie Steward and Malins probably gives
them the best chance of winning the aerial tussle at Twickenham.
Expect Slade, whose left foot remains valuable for kicking variation in the 50:22 era, to take on the first receiver role Farrell assumed against Australia from most lineouts. The ultra-aggressive, out-to-in defensive blitz of South Africa will be led by superb outside centre Lukhanyo Am and supported by wing Makazole Mapimpi. As ever when the Springboks are playing, the 15-metre channels will be a significant battleground.
Scotland scored both of their tries last Saturday at Murrayfield by outflanking Jacques Nienaber’s system. For the first, Finn Russell clipped a kick-pass to Duhan van der Merwe. Following a flurry of offloads, Stuart
Hogg broke clear. For the second, Scotland ran a strike-move that England have been using all autumn. Matt Scott played first-receiver and pulled the ball back to Russell behind the run of Chris Harris. Another rapid pass beat the blitz of Mapimpi and Van der Merwe held off a scrambling Am long enough to loop over Willie le Roux to Hogg.
Smith will be brave enough to impart width, but should also keep in mind that South Africa defied Russell for most of the weekend’s game. Samu Kerevi’s direct running was key to Australia’s wins over the Springboks in September. In theory, Tuilagi gives Smith and England the firepower to attack in different ways – should their pack provide any sort of set-piece platform.