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#Post#: 144150--------------------------------------------------
George Ford to beat Fin Smith for England fly-half
DIR By: DOK
Date: October 27, 2025, 7:27 pm
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Sale No 10’s tactical nous may earn him start on Saturday
HTML https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/oct/27/george-ford-in-line-beat-fin-smith-england-fly-half-start-australia-twickenham-rugby-union
#Post#: 144151--------------------------------------------------
Re: George Ford to beat Fin Smith for England fly-half
DIR By: poorfour
Date: October 28, 2025, 1:20 am
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I’ve changed my views on this since remembering that the AIs
count for RWC qualification, and England have limited prep time.
To that end, England probably need to prioritise continuity in
the attacking system, which favours Ford, while bringing Lions
back in where it won’t disrupt things, which I think mostly
means the forwards and Freeman.
But I’d hope the squad will evolve somewhat over the course of
the series.
#Post#: 144152--------------------------------------------------
Re: George Ford to beat Fin Smith for England fly-half
DIR By: MaidstoneQuin
Date: October 28, 2025, 3:06 am
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Can't really argue, Ford probably is the form 10 and did well
over Summer too. Marcus will be a good option off the bench. I
imagine back row rise Kenningham will miss out and I expect it
will be a Curry/Earl/Underhill set up, with CCS probably
utilized in second row. Pollock on bench
#Post#: 144153--------------------------------------------------
Re: George Ford to beat Fin Smith for England fly-half
DIR By: Quinto
Date: October 28, 2025, 5:09 am
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Bar injury, I expect Marcus has played himself out of the team
as a fly half.
#Post#: 144154--------------------------------------------------
Re: George Ford to beat Fin Smith for England fly-half
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: October 28, 2025, 5:17 am
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--- Quote from: Quinto link ---
>
> Bar injury, I expect Marcus has played himself out of the team
as a fly half.
>
--- End Quote ---
But if Ford starts, Marcus is a no-brainer for the bench. If Fin
doesn't start then Marcus' perceived versatility (even though
very few of us here believe in the Marcus at 15 experiment) will
surely win the day in terms of their scrap for a bench spot.
Even more so if England keep going for a 6-2 split.
#Post#: 144155--------------------------------------------------
Re: George Ford to beat Fin Smith for England fly-half
DIR By: poorfour
Date: October 28, 2025, 6:32 am
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Borthwick's attacking strategy places a premium on having
multiple playmakers on the pitch. So far that has tended to be
at 10 and 15, though it could change a bit if he opts for more
creative centres than usual.
Furbank is probably the ideal player to fit that 15 role (much
as Kinghorn is for Scotland), but in Furbank's absence Marcus
also fits the bill. The Law change to rule out shepherding has,
ironically, made high ball skills less important for a fullback
as teams are kicking more to the wings so that their own wings
can chase. With Freeman, Feyi-Waboso, Roebuck and Caluori among
the wing options, I wouldn't be surprised to see them persist
with Marcus at 15, because he creates so many problems for the
opposition in attack - they have to mark him, and they have to
mark all his potential pass and kick targets, which leaves space
elsewhere. Defensively he has work-ons, but so does Steward.
I would like to see Marcus given games at 10 with the backline
and system that's emerging (as I am sure would he) though it's
only likely to happen if there's a combination of injuries to
one of the other 10s and a fit, creative fullback being
available. But as long as the attacking system calls for
multiple playmakers, he's going to have a role in the 23.
#Post#: 144156--------------------------------------------------
Re: George Ford to beat Fin Smith for England fly-half
DIR By: Yareet
Date: October 28, 2025, 6:44 am
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--- Quote from: poorfour link ---
>
> Borthwick's attacking strategy places a premium on having
multiple playmakers on the pitch. So far that has tended to be
at 10 and 15, though it could change a bit if he opts for more
creative centres than usual.
>
> Furbank is probably the ideal player to fit that 15 role (much
as Kinghorn is for Scotland), but in Furbank's absence Marcus
also fits the bill. The Law change to rule out shepherding has,
ironically, made high ball skills less important for a fullback
as teams are kicking more to the wings so that their own wings
can chase. With Freeman, Feyi-Waboso, Roebuck and Caluori among
the wing options, I wouldn't be surprised to see them persist
with Marcus at 15, because he creates so many problems for the
opposition in attack - they have to mark him, and they have to
mark all his potential pass and kick targets, which leaves space
elsewhere. Defensively he has work-ons, but so does Steward.
>
> I would like to see Marcus given games at 10 with the backline
and system that's emerging (as I am sure would he) though it's
only likely to happen if there's a combination of injuries to
one of the other 10s and a fit, creative fullback being
available. But as long as the attacking system calls for
multiple playmakers, he's going to have a role in the 23.
>
--- End Quote ---
Ageee fully with this although I add Slade has been used as the
3rd playmaker.
Reports that F Smith may be a centre option make me think we’ll
see all 3 10s on the pitch together (at least at some point).
I’m not 100% on injuries but something like:
Mitchell
Ford
IFW
F Smith
Lawrence
Freeman
M Smith
#Post#: 144158--------------------------------------------------
Re: George Ford to beat Fin Smith for England fly-half
DIR By: poorfour
Date: October 28, 2025, 7:01 am
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I have wondered in the past whether a 10. Smith 12. Smith
combination could work. It perhaps gives a little away
defensively, but you then have a very good "system" fly half
alongside a fly half who can find and create space. It would
work best with a 13 and wings who are smart enough to read
what's happening.
I could see that working really well with, say IFW, Freeman (at
13) and Murley. Or IFW, Marchant and Freeman.
#Post#: 144159--------------------------------------------------
Re: George Ford to beat Fin Smith for England fly-half
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: October 28, 2025, 7:15 am
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Really think that all of this is quite silly. Pick a 15 at 15
and a 12 at 12, please.
Anyway I think it would be a mistake to pick Ford, who did well
over the summer but his performances so far this season have
shown his weaknesses. He is prone to resorting to kicking to
destruction when losing matches, and he's by far the worst
option in defence - he is so slow and weak now that him covering
across is a sad sight.
I think he's a great 10 with ball in hand most of the time and
has the best tactical game, but Fin is in fine form and is
obviously a much better defender. Importantly (for me) he is
also far more likely to just let teammates do their thing
compared to both his rivals, and he strikes a good middle ground
between Ford's kick-and-pressure instincts and Marcus putting
all the pressure on himself to deliver the telling blow.
I also think it's a bad look that we dropped one 10 after having
a fine autumn series, only to drop his replacement because of a
lesser series he didn't play in because he was at the Lions
instead.
#Post#: 144161--------------------------------------------------
Re: George Ford to beat Fin Smith for England fly-half
DIR By: Q
Date: October 28, 2025, 7:56 am
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--- Quote from: poorfour link ---
>
> I could see that working really well with, say IFW, Freeman
(at 13) and Murley. Or IFW, Marchant and Freeman.
>
--- End Quote ---
And Green at 15!
That all seems to have died down - I thought he qualified for
England in the summer, with a view to being called up for this
series, but there doesn't seem to be any mention of him being in
the running anywhere.
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