SAFE CRACK
Smith draws criticism
MARCUS SMITH stood accused of a ‘safety-first mentality’ – despite pulling the strings on one of England’s great comebacks.
Sir Clive Woodward was livid with the young fly-half’s decision to kick the ball dead and “accept” a draw with the final play of Saturday’s game.
Smith orchestrated England’s great escape from 25-6 down with eight minutes left to play– and was hailed “brilliant” by boss Eddie Jones.
But 2003 World Cup-winning coach Woodward stuck the boot in. “Smith’s option showed that England’s mentality is not in the same league as the other top teams,” Woodward wrote in his newspaper column. “If I’d been the England coach I would have gone absolutely mad.” Smith has a licence to thrill at Harlequins and is not used to being accused of conservatism. Former team-mate Mike Brown said: “If he had a Quins shirt on he would not have accepted the draw. That shows something deeper in the environment.”
For 70 minutes England were lacking, given a rugby lesson in most aspects by the All Blacks.
During that time Jones did feel that Smith, playing only his 16th Test, was not as aggressive in leading the attack as he needed to be.
But given the way the 23-year-old belied his inexperience to dig England out of a hole late on, Jones was not about to bag him for ending the game deep inside his own 22.
“It’s easy to make a decision on the sideline but the players understood that (referee) Mathieu Raynal was penalising very heavily the attacking ruck,” said the Australian. “I don’t have any qualms with the decision they made.
“Marcus was aggressive, decisive, he wanted to own the game. I thought that was a big step forward for the young man.”
England’s comeback was one for the ages. Never before had New Zealand held a 14-point half-time lead and failed to get the win.
Smith made that possible with his break, a show-and-go followed by that trademark goose-step, which led to the first of two Will Stuart tries, either side of a beauty by Freddie Steward.
Combining smartly with supercharged subs Ben Youngs, Henry Slade and Mako Vunipola, Smith took full advantage of New Zealand being down a man in the dying moments.
And when he converted Stuart’s second a minute from time, Twickenham rose as one to salute him.
That those cheers turned to jeers seconds later will only fire him up for another day.