Anna 
Marcus Smith’s hopes of reclaiming his place in the England starting lineup have taken a significant blow after head coach Steve Borthwick dropped him for Sunday’s Six Nations match against Italy. This decision, made during a one-on-one meeting at the team hotel, casts doubt on Smith’s future with the squad and his chances of making the upcoming British & Irish Lions tour.
Borthwick has not guaranteed Smith’s return to the starting XV. Instead, Elliot Daly will start at full-back, with Fin Smith continuing at fly-half. To reinforce team cohesion, Borthwick has chosen five Northampton backs, including Fraser Dingwall, who replaces Henry Slade at inside-centre.
Smith’s new role will be from the bench, where Borthwick has urged him to make an impact, capitalizing on fatigued defenders to help boost England’s chances of improving their points difference. While Smith has had mixed performances at full-back in recent outings, Borthwick’s expectations remain high.
Regarding the presence of more Northampton players in the squad, including George Furbank, Borthwick acknowledged that Smith’s path back to the starting side is more challenging. However, he remains focused on helping every player, including Smith, reach their full potential.
Smith’s fall from grace is notable. He had been a regular starter at fly-half for England, contributing to the team’s attacking spark. But after a string of mixed performances, he was moved to full-back, and now finds himself out of the starting lineup. Despite this, Borthwick remains confident that improvements will be made in England’s attacking play against Italy.
“Marcus has trained brilliantly, which is immense credit to him as a person,” Borthwick said. “I see him as a game-changer, and I’m excited to see him come on and make an impact when the game opens up.”
Smith, who was a late call-up to the 2021 Lions tour, still has hopes of making the squad for this summer’s tour to Australia. However, his current position on the bench could hinder his chances.
Meanwhile, Daly will start at full-back for the first time in four years, having previously been used as a winger under Eddie Jones. Borthwick is confident in Daly’s abilities and is backing his team to improve their attacking game against Italy after a narrow victory over Scotland.
“We want to make sure we take every opportunity this weekend,” Borthwick said. “It’s never just about one player, it’s about the team’s overall performance, and I’m confident we’ll get it right against Italy.”
In another change to the lineup, Jamie George will start at hooker for his 100th England appearance, marking a milestone in his long career. Borthwick praised George for his continued excellence on the field.
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