All eyes on Marcus Smith as England enter next phase under Steve Borthwick

After a week that has been dominated by matters disconnected the field, England volition beryllium blessed to fto their rugby bash the talking erstwhile they look New Zealand connected Saturday.

The England prop, successful the words of skipper Jamie George, has “prodded the bear” and Steve Borthwick’s broadside should beryllium braced for a backlash from the All Blacks.

Marler has subsequently apologised and England were deciding connected Friday day how, and if, they would respond to the Haka.

“We’re not going to commencement climbing connected each other’s shoulders,” said prop Ellis Genge. “But we’ll beryllium determination respectfully and ticker it.

“I cognize immoderate radical are divided connected it but I rather similar it. It’s spot of a challenge. I’m a large instrumentality of it and I don’t deliberation we should get escaped of it. You should beryllium capable to respond but everyone is respectful erstwhile they bash that.”

Never caput the Haka, England request a effect connected the pitch. Two constrictive defeats to New Zealand successful the summertime showed signs of advancement nether Borthwick, but a triumph implicit the All Blacks astatine Twickenham would correspond a existent measurement forward.

If England are to get the triumph they crave, past Marcus Smith volition person a cardinal relation to play. The fly-half was fixed the keys to the backline successful the summertime and helium has kept his spot for Saturday’s game, with George Ford connected the seat aft lone conscionable returning from injury.

The summertime brings backmost achy memories for Smith, who missed 3 kicks astatine extremity successful the archetypal Test arsenic England mislaid 16-15 to the All Blacks.

“In that circumstantial moment, erstwhile the lads needed maine most, I wasn’t there,” Smith said. “Going into that week, I was astir apt overthinking it. I don’t deliberation I kicked that good towards the backmost extremity of past season. I felt I was a spot rushed, a spot choky connected the shot and it felt funny.”

Smith’s effect summed up his attitude. In the 2nd Test with the All Blacks, which England mislaid 24-17, helium was faultless successful beforehand of goal. Since then, helium has been moving with legendary fly-half Jonny Wilkinson and Leigh Halfpenny - who joined Harlequins successful the summer.

“I've done breathwork astatine the backmost of my run-up, particularly if I’m successful a longer transition of play, trying to modulate my emotions and breathing truthful I tin enactment calm successful that moment,” said Smith. “It allows maine to calm down. I effort to modulate myself truthful that I'm not arsenic assertive and angry.”

In that circumstantial moment, erstwhile the lads needed maine most, I wasn’t there

Marcus Smith connected missed kicks against All Blacks

Smith’s hard enactment appears to beryllium paying disconnected and connected Saturday helium volition person the accidental to banish the achy memories from the summer.

Other than the information scrum-half Alex Mitchell is out, England person a settled backline that includes Henry Slade. The centre has lone played 55 minutes of rugby this season, but has been thrown consecutive into the team.

It is each portion of Borthwick’s tendency for continuity and Smith is the subordinate who volition beryllium trusted to knit everything together.

He has agelong been tipped for the top, ever since Eddie Jones invited him to bid with the elder England broadside immoderate 7 years agone erstwhile Smith was a teenager.

Now 25, Smith has matured and developed into 1 of the astir breathtaking alert halves successful the satellite and, arsenic England look to participate the adjacent signifier of their improvement nether Borthwick, the signifier is acceptable for him to shine.