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Smith wins battle to start at No10 as Borthwick goes for the jugular
Evening Standard
|March 09, 2023
MARCUS SMITH will spearhead England's high-octane attacking plan to topple France by starting Saturday's Six Nations clash at fly-half.
Regular captain Owen Farrell will take a seat on the bench in a bold selection call from head coach Steve Borthwick.
Ellis Genge will captain England, with Farrell overlooked for a Test starting spot when fit for the first time since the 2015 World Cup.
Smith was released from England's training camp last week, under orders from Borthwick to run the show in Harlequins' Premiership clash with Exeter on Saturday. The 24-year-old delivered in style, as Quins thumped the Chiefs 40-5, before returning to the England camp on Sunday night.
England believe the way to beat France will be through a fast-paced attacking approach, leaving Borthwick to install Smith for this specific mission.
This story is from the March 09, 2023 edition of Evening Standard.
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