MARCED MAN
Scots’ Tandy has plan to tame his former Lion Smith
BY
MARCUS SMITH is set to be the main attraction in Saturday’s Calcutta Cup match for Scotland‘s defenders – who believe they have the inside information on the fly-half.
Scotland coach Gregor Townsend and his defensive mastermind Steve Tandy (Above) assisted Warren Gatland on last summer’s British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa.
Smith arrived then as an injury replacement and although he played only one game, he was on the ground with Tandy for a month.
The 22-year-old tore it up for England in the autumn, backing up his form for Harlequins. And Tandy says familiarity has bred respect, but given him a plan how to stop Smith and the other English Lions.
“On the Lions trip you could see exactly what he is about, the talent he has got, the speed, how he can play the game,” said Tandy. “His instinct will take over, that is why he is picked for England.
“He has an outstanding kicking game, makes really good decisions, and hits the line and opens the game up a little bit more. There is an unpredictability about him, so we have to be on the money.
“You realise how good they are, just like the Scottish blokes when they go on
Lions tours and people see how good they are. It was a great experience to work with them one on one as well as the team environment.
“It made me realise the quality they have and gave me an insight into the quality we are taking on at the weekend.
“It also made me realise how good our boys are.”
The belief Scotland can upset the English applecart at the weekend was reinforced by their
11-6 win at Twickenham last season, the first time they had triumphed their since 1983.
The Scots are winning on points in recent Calcutta Cups with a 25-13 win at Murrayfield in 2018, a bizarre 38-38 draw at Twickenham in 2019, a 13-6 defeat in 2020 and last year’s history-maker.
Tandy added: “We are at home, it’s going to be an unbelievable crowd, but it’s about not getting distracted.”
He also confirmed Jamie Bhatti is out with a hand injury, with London Irish prop Allan Dell called up.