MARCUS KEEPING HOME FIRES BURNING

JOB done for England and Marcus Smith as Steve Borthwick’s side stayed in the Six Nations title race.

- By Adam Hathaway

Smith had been dropped to the bench, with head coach Borthwick saying he was relishing seeing him run against a tired Italy team.

Instead, when Ollie Lawrence popped his Achilles after eight minutes, Smith was thrust on as full-back.

And he might just have rescued his chances of touring with the Lions Down Under this summer.

The 26-year-old has lost his No.10 jersey to Fin Smith but showed he still has a part to play with an all-round display off the bench. Yes, it was only Italy, who shipped 73 points to France. However, they have proved tough opposition before and Marcus Smith helped England avoid a banana skin.