Borthwick Confident in Marcus Smith Ahead of Calcutta Cup Clash
Steve Borthwick is backing “world-class goal-kicker” Marcus Smith to rediscover his form when England takes on Scotland in a crucial Six Nations encounter at Twickenham on Saturday.
Smith, typically a flyhalf, was deployed at fullback against France to accommodate Fin Smith in the No.10 role. However, despite retaining his place as England’s primary kicker, he struggled, missing both a conversion and a penalty—errors that nearly proved costly.
England’s fate turned when Fin Smith, in his first Test start, stepped up to convert a crucial try by Fin Baxter before adding the extras for Elliot Daly’s late winner, securing a dramatic 26-25 victory over Les Bleus.
Borthwick Backs Smith to Bounce Back
Despite his recent struggles, Marcus Smith will remain England’s first-choice kicker for the Calcutta Cup.
“He’s a world-class goal-kicker; we all know that, so it’s very simple,” Borthwick stated. “Marcus is a game-changer, a player with incredible ability.”
He also highlighted the tactical advantage of having both Smiths in the lineup. “With Fin and Marcus, we have two playmakers who can read space in both attack and defense, and that will be crucial this weekend.”
Team Adjustments and Scotland’s Threat
Borthwick has made only one change to his starting XV, bringing in Ollie Chessum for George Martin at lock, where he will partner captain Maro Itoje.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s lineup remains uncertain as coach Gregor Townsend will announce his squad on Thursday. Star flyhalf Finn Russell, who suffered a head injury in the loss to Ireland, is expected to play.
Borthwick acknowledged Russell’s impact, describing him as “arguably the best flyhalf in the world right now.” He stressed the importance of England’s defensive awareness, given Russell’s creative and attacking kicking game.
Ending Scotland’s Winning Streak
England is aiming to break a four-game losing streak against Scotland in rugby’s oldest international rivalry, dating back to 1871.
While Borthwick’s tenure as head coach began with a 23-29 loss to Scotland, he downplayed past results.
“Everyone is aware of the record, but this is a different group,” he said. “We can’t change history, but we can focus on the present.”
With both teams eager for victory, Saturday’s showdown promises to be a fiercely contested battle at Twickenham.
Leave a Reply