Wizz-kid Smith in to work his magic
ENGLAND U20s head coach Steve Bates has thrown down the gauntlet to star playmaker Marcus Smith ahead of a huge challenge to regain the junior world title they last won in 2016.
Harlequins prodigy Smith must make do with an U20s place after missing out on the senior tour to South Africa. However, Bates is banking on the 19year-old fly-half buckling up and leading a glory charge as England brace for a physical examination.
England face Argentina first-up this Wednesday followed by further Pool games against improving Italy and Scotland, who defeated them in the Six Nations.
With potential matchups against Southern Hemisphere powerhouses South Africa and New Zealand to follow in the knock-out stages, the quick-fire nature of the competition means Bates needs Smith to perform after a stellar Premiership campaign.
Explaining Smith’s inclusion, Bates told The
Rugby Paper: “It’s all about us putting out the best side that’s available. We would have started by picking all the eligible U20s but Nick Isiekwe, Tom Curry, Ben Earl and Cameron Redpath were picked in the seniors.
“It’s the end of an U20s campaign which is about winning the World Cup and Marcus is a very exciting, hugely talented player who brings a massive amount of the experience he’s gained this season to a group that, player-wise, is varied.
“Some of these guys will have played a reasonable amount of senior rugby – Ben Curry at Sale, for instance – while others have played only a handful of A games, so the kind of leadership Marcus brings will be hugely beneficial to the squad.”
The inclusion of one of last year’s stars, Will Butler, is a massive bonus for England after the gifted centre injured an arm playing in Worcester’s last game of the season.
Bates said: “Will offers valuable experience having been at this tournament last year. This is a gruelling competition, with games every four or five days, and however much we as coaches tell players to recover well, it’s not as powerful as peers like Will saying this is the toughest tournament they’ve played, so that’s been really useful.”
England lost 26-12 to a brutal South Africa U20s side a fortnight ago but Bates added: “It was good to have that physical contest then, rather than getting into the tournament and being shocked by what you might meet.
“We know the threats Argentina, Italy and Scotland offer in our Pool and all teams will be gunning for us, but I’d like to think we’re ready.