Oakboy wrote: ↑Fri Oct 27, 2023 12:42 pm
Smith is a FH. That's where he should be playing tonight and, if he continues to improve, the next four years +.
Smith has had several opportunities at 10 and bar one game against South Africa has looked pretty average at international level. His better displays have been from 15 so far. I think it's a pretty good tactic by Borthwick to offer something different to the backline. Smith defends plenty in the backfield anyway and in attack he's stood as the secondary playmaker in a similar way to how Farrell does when he plays 12. I think a lot is being made out of the number on the back of his shirt but there being not much real difference to him wearing 10 and Farrell wearing 12. Smith would still be in the backfield to receive kicks in that instance and still be the secondary playmaker to spread the ball amongst the backs.
Like every other new international, Smith needed a run of games to bed in. I don't think he really got this. Based on his exciting club form, fans and pundits unreasonably expected miracles from the start. His game management needed a bit of work and he was guilty of trying too much at times, but that was offset by his ability to pull something out of the hat. His cause was not helped by the imposed conservative tactics or by the selections on ether side at 9 and 12.
No real point in picking Smith then telling him to play like Farrell.
He did have a run of games, what probably didn't help was the turnover in centres he had though he had games with both Care and Randall (who was his halfback partner at age grade level) as well as Marchant at 13 at times.
He's still young and a bit raw. I'm hoping the game time at 15 will be good for his development long term. Not many big nations go into a world cup with a young 10 for a reason.
Nicely worked try by Earl there as well. Smith as the second disruptor there really helps make it as well.
Mellsblue wrote: ↑Fri Oct 27, 2023 8:13 pm
Classic Youngs.
He's done ok after that initial crappy pass from the scrum, right up to the point where he kicks away that penalty advantage. Just wasn't on, disappointing when we've been so dominant. If we don't want to play a lot of phases at least try to engineer Steward on a crossfield kick.
Some weak England attack from Smith produces a turnover and then the Pumas just don't give it back. Going coast to coast finding space on the wider channels.
Galfon wrote: ↑Fri Oct 27, 2023 8:35 pm
Eng have missed Cunderhill.
Seeing Underhill play so energetically underlines how poor a decision it was to have Billy V on the bench v SA. We could have had this level of performance from him last week OR Ludlam. I hope Suspicious Bunting learns that lesson sharpish.
Galfon wrote: ↑Fri Oct 27, 2023 8:35 pm
Eng have missed Cunderhill.
Seeing Underhill play so energetically underlines how poor a decision it was to have Billy V on the bench v SA. We could have had this level of performance from him last week OR Ludlam. I hope Suspicious Bunting learns that lesson sharpish.
Perhaps why BillyV is nowhere to be seen in the squad for this.
Why have tmos when a ridiculous forward pass gets waved through. In other news, Youngs is too slow to clear and Smith ain’t a fullback. Quelle surprise.
Argentina must be a frustrating team for their supporters. Almost a very good team, they have some great individual players but yet again are a sloppy bunch with little direction.
Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Oct 27, 2023 8:51 pm
Why have tmos when a ridiculous forward pass gets waved through. In other news, Youngs is too slow to clear and Smith ain’t a fullback. Quelle surprise.
Smith looks better when playing as a fullback, when we've split Farrell and Smith left and right of the breakdown it's when Smith has made errors. In theory that's a really nice tactic as it makes it very hard to blitz the flyhalf if you've got one either side of the breakdown with options for them to attack with. Smith has shat the bed twice in the Puma 22 on the right hand side of the breakdown now. The one just before half time where he does his best Ben Youngs kick the ball away impersonation and then the turnover before the Puma try where he stood deep and static just laying it off to Steward on the inside line leaving him isolated once of the gain line as Argentina were easily able to realign and mob the breakdown. Running onto the ball outside of Farrell, e.g. for the try, he looks way more comfortable somewhat bizarrely.
Why doesn't Arundell play more... Dreadful kick chase all game and then kicks the ball away when there was space on the left for him to hit the gas and go. Bad kick as well.
That being said we could do with putting the ball in his hands closer to the try line.
FKAS wrote: ↑Fri Oct 27, 2023 9:13 pm
Why doesn't Arundell play more... Dreadful kick chase all game and then kicks the ball away when there was space on the left for him to hit the gas and go. Bad kick as well.
That being said we could do with putting the ball in his hands closer to the try line.
Strange how you give Leicester players more leeway. The bloke hadn’t touched it for over 40 mins cos we’re such a poor attacking team…
