Jones backing Smith to thrive in Murrayfield cauldron
EDDIE JONES is confident Marcus Smith will thrive on his Guinness Six Nations debut at Murrayfield, even though he expects Scotland to target the rising star of English rugby.
Smith has fended off the challenge from George Ford for the fly-half duties in Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash, with Jones seeing the toughest challenge of his five-cap career as a crucial part of his development. With 77 Tests in the bank, the in-form Ford offered a safer option, particularly with strong winds and heavy rain expected in Edinburgh, but the precocious talent of his 22-yearold rival has won this particular selection battle.
“I’m sure Scotland are going to come at him. Scotland brag about being able to get into the psychology of England, don’t they? So let’s see on Saturday,” Jones said.
“We feel Marcus is ready to keep progressing his Test career. Every young 10 starts off at the stage where there are doubts about his experience to handle the pressure of the situation.
“At some stage they play a game bigger than they’ve ever played and it’s all part of their learning curve.
“I’ve got no doubt Marcus has got the desire and the drive to be one of the best 10s in the world and this game on Saturday will be an opportunity for him to continue his progress. “We just want to see him keep improving. He’s going to have some bad days. We understand that. But we feel he has the desire and the work ethic and he’s definitely got talent.
“Talent is not something we have to debate. I don’t think anyone can debate that. But talent doesn’t make you a great Test player. Desire and your work ethic does. And a curiosity to keep learning. He is high-ranking in all of those areas.
“There’s no reason why he can’t handle Saturday. He’s stuck between someone who has played 112 caps (Ben Youngs) and then Henry Slade and Elliot Daly who are both four or five-season Test players.”
In the poor conditions predicted for Murrayfield, the challenge will be striking the right balance between listening to his attacking instincts and providing the right game management.
“He made calculated decisions [in the game against South
Africa] on when to move the ball and when to kick the ball and he’ll do that again on Saturday,” added Jones.
England team: F Steward (Leicester Tigers); M Malins (Saracens), E Daly (Saracens),
H Slade (Exeter Chiefs), J Marchant (Harlequins); M Smith (Harlequins), B Youngs (Leicester Tigers); E Genge (Leicester Tigers), L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), K Sinckler (Bristol Bears), M Itoje (Saracens), N Isiekwe (Saracens), L Ludlam (Northampton Saints), T Curry (Sale Sharks, capt), S Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs). Replacements: J George (Saracens), J Marler (Harlequins), W Stuart (Bath Rugby), C Ewels (Bath Rugby), A Dombrandt (Harlequins), H Randall (Bristol Bears), G Ford (Leicester Tigers), J Nowell (Exeter Chiefs).