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       #Post#: 125489--------------------------------------------------
       O/T Ford Out
   DIR By: Guildford Quin
       Date: June 9, 2024, 8:08 am
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       So it looks like a shoot-out between the 2 Smiths for the No.10
       shirt against the All Blacks this Summer. My guess is Borthwick
       will start Finn based on consistency and better goal kicking
       with Marcus offering a more versatile bench option to cover
       10&15. I don't think Marcus is a genuine option at 15, but
       because he's played there before for England it will count
       against him as the starting fly-half.
  HTML https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c3gg7ejxq1po
       #Post#: 125490--------------------------------------------------
       Re: O/T Ford Out
   DIR By: Yareet
       Date: June 9, 2024, 8:29 am
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       --- Quote from: Neil Quinnock link ---
       >
       > So it looks like a shoot-out between the 2 Smiths for the
       No.10 shirt against the All Blacks this Summer. My guess is
       Borthwick will start Finn based on consistency and better goal
       kicking with Marcus offering a more versatile bench option to
       cover 10&15. I don't think Marcus is a genuine option at 15, but
       because he's played there before for England it will count
       against him as the starting fly-half.
       >
       >
  HTML https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c3gg7ejxq1po
       >
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Conversely, I can't seem him playing anyone other than Smith, M.
       Against last year's World Cup finalists and number 3 team in the
       world, I would start with the Lion who has 30 england caps
       rather than the 3-capper who has 3 seasons of pro rugby.
       Could all be moot if Smith, F's injury from yesterday is too
       serious. Would mean we're calling on one of the other english
       10s from a Prem club like.... erm... Skinner or Atkinson.
       #Post#: 125492--------------------------------------------------
       Re: O/T Ford Out
   DIR By: Guildford Quin
       Date: June 9, 2024, 9:02 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I hope you're right as I'd like to see Marcus given the starting
       shirt but I just fear Borthwick might revert to type and favour
       the consistency/predictability/game management of Finn
       #Post#: 125493--------------------------------------------------
       Re: O/T Ford Out
   DIR By: MaidstoneQuin
       Date: June 9, 2024, 9:28 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Borthwicks selection process..
       Did he win the premiership? Yes. Ok must be the better player.
       For what it’s worth Fin and Spencer would work well I think
       anyway. Mitchell I’m not massively won over by
       #Post#: 125494--------------------------------------------------
       Re: O/T Ford Out
   DIR By: Seequin
       Date: June 9, 2024, 10:15 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       There is a lot of hype around Fin Smith and he’s obviously got
       great potential but I don’t think he is quite there yet. But
       good chance for both of them.
       #Post#: 125495--------------------------------------------------
       Re: O/T Ford Out
   DIR By: JammyGit
       Date: June 9, 2024, 11:42 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Fin has had an excellent season but he's been far from perfect.
       I didn't see the semi finals but he was comprehensively
       outplayed in the final and looked a little shaky. A lot of
       people have smugly declared him the far better player than
       Marcus, who has had some pretty spectacular games of his own
       this season, and the appetite for a less flashy fly half has led
       to a fair number of people handwaving away Fin’s issues.
       It's a shame in many respects because without the international
       angle there'd be no shame in acknowledging a fine season while
       noting the work-ons. His performance in the final did not bring
       confidence, he was very much second best in the club head to
       head with Marcus, and his international cameos so far have been
       fairly poor; this is a very talented player with some serious
       strengths who is being anointed off the back of fairly limited
       number of club matches, and lots of people (fans and media)
       pushing him to start in the hardest away tour in the calendar
       and acting like a failure to do so would be a criminal
       oversight. In reality it's extremely early and we've seen enough
       this calendar year to know he's not the second coming of Dan
       Carter just yet. Say what you like about Marcus but there's
       never been a shortage of people willing to point out his
       shortcomings or his less impressive displays!
       I think England are blessed at 10 with the two Smiths and Ford,
       but I worry what might happen in the near future, particularly
       for the two younger players.
       #Post#: 125498--------------------------------------------------
       Re: O/T Ford Out
   DIR By: poorfour
       Date: June 9, 2024, 12:50 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       This tour has always been Borthwick’s best opportunity to start
       building the squad and style of play he wants for 2027. With his
       two senior fly halves unavailable, he’s going to have to commit
       to one of the younger players, but he was always likely to do so
       anyway.
       His tactics have been fairly conservative so far, but he’s not
       had his preferred coaching team and has been focused on things
       like improving the squad’s fitness. If we’re going to see a more
       expansive style of play, this tour is where it’s most likely to
       start. Part of that is whether he favours Smith over Smith.
       #Post#: 125499--------------------------------------------------
       Re: O/T Ford Out
   DIR By: RodneyRegis
       Date: June 9, 2024, 1:08 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: poorfour link ---
       >
       > This tour has always been Borthwick’s best opportunity to
       start building the squad and style of play he wants for 2027.
       With his two senior fly halves unavailable, he’s going to have
       to commit to one of the younger players, but he was always
       likely to do so anyway.
       >
       > His tactics have been fairly conservative so far, but he’s not
       had his preferred coaching team and has been focused on things
       like improving the squad’s fitness. If we’re going to see a more
       expansive style of play, this tour is where it’s most likely to
       start. Part of that is whether he favours Smith over Smith.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Are you suggesting the Steve wouldn't pick Farrell if he were
       available?!
       #Post#: 125512--------------------------------------------------
       Re: O/T Ford Out
   DIR By: Banstead Quin
       Date: June 10, 2024, 5:03 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I thought Farrell ruled himself available for the Summer anyway,
       so with Ford out, you can almost sense that Borthwick will
       blink.
       A 30 cap international who has played against the All Blacks,
       South Africa, Ireland & France trumps a 3 capper any day of the
       week. But this is an Eddie acolyte as well, so I wouldn't rule
       out Furbank to 10 either......or Marler!!!
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