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#Post#: 144316--------------------------------------------------
Re: England in danger of wasting a maverick talent in Marcus
Smith
DIR By: Quinky
Date: November 1, 2025, 12:02 am
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--- Quote from: FrostAndFire link ---
>
> Very few teams are.
>
--- End Quote ---
True. Although I daresay that a team like France wouldn't be
beaten by any Prem side.
Anyway, don't Quins still hold the record for the longest
winning streak at the start of the season? Under COS IIRC.
#Post#: 144318--------------------------------------------------
Re: England in danger of wasting a maverick talent in Marcus
Smith
DIR By: Quinston Churchill
Date: November 1, 2025, 3:07 am
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--- Quote from: FrostAndFire link ---
>
> To be fair, they are leading the Prem and are unbeaten so far
this season.
>
--- End Quote ---
And the same group of players looked very good against the
equivalent of Tier 1 international teams in the Champions Cup
semi and final.
On Marcus, I think the vast majority of non-Quins get his
personality completely wrong. He’s dismissed as a flashy, show
pony with no grit and a primadonna attitude which is almost
completely wrong.
Personally, I wouldn’t be completely surprised if these kind of
set backs spur him in to be even better. I’m sure he would be
willing to cover 15 but he might have made it clear to Borthwick
that he wants to focus on competing for the 10 shirt. That puts
him in direct competition with Ford and Fin, but we know Marcus
backs himself so who knows.
Anyway - I don’t see him looking to go to France (or anywhere
else) pre-RWC.
#Post#: 144323--------------------------------------------------
Re: England in danger of wasting a maverick talent in Marcus
Smith
DIR By: Quinten Poulsen
Date: November 1, 2025, 7:11 am
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--- Quote from: Rugbycat link ---
>
> For someone who is touted as a defensive leader his jumping
out of the line early in international matches is really
strange, it was more obvious in the kamikaze blitz defence but
it is a constant fault.
> He only played the first game on tour as he broke his hand in
the first half of the game and played the rest of the game with
it.
>
--- End Quote ---
JUst as often as not he was doing the right thing with the blitz
defence but players weren't following him. Anyway, I still think
he had a bunch of caps that should have been Marchant's.
#Post#: 144324--------------------------------------------------
Re: England in danger of wasting a maverick talent in Marcus
Smith
DIR By: Quinston Churchill
Date: November 1, 2025, 8:14 am
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Oh yeah, 100%. Moreover, had those caps gone to Marchant he most
likely wouldn’t have been in France right now.
#Post#: 144325--------------------------------------------------
Re: England in danger of wasting a maverick talent in Marcus
Smith
DIR By: poorfour
Date: November 1, 2025, 8:57 am
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--- Quote from: Quinston Churchill link ---
>
> Oh yeah, 100%. Moreover, had those caps gone to Marchant he
most likely wouldn’t have been in France right now.
>
--- End Quote ---
And there's a decent chance Marcus would be starting, having had
at least one player in the squad who could keep up with him
#Post#: 144326--------------------------------------------------
Re: England in danger of wasting a maverick talent in Marcus
Smith
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: November 1, 2025, 9:42 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Quinten Poulsen link ---
>
> JUst as often as not he was doing the right thing with the
blitz defence but players weren't following him. Anyway, I still
think he had a bunch of caps that should have been Marchant's.
>
--- End Quote ---
Yep. And as 13 is often the defensive leader, the other players
*should* be following him in the blitz.
#Post#: 144327--------------------------------------------------
Re: England in danger of wasting a maverick talent in Marcus
Smith
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: November 1, 2025, 9:43 am
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There's also the fact that the system sometimes is designed for
a single player to shoot out. Not saying it's a good design, but
teams do play that way.
#Post#: 144428--------------------------------------------------
Re: England in danger of wasting a maverick talent in Marcus
Smith
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: November 5, 2025, 6:59 am
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“Marcus offers something different to a lot of other full-backs
that are out there, but just because he offers something
different doesn’t mean he’ll get the spot,” Sinfield said.
“What’s really important is to understand cohesion, to
understand the balance throughout the back line and the team,
and combinations, but also to understand the opposition as well
and what they’re likely to bring. You’re never quite sure until
we get to game day, but you have an idea through your preview of
what may come.
“Possibly [we will have to rejig the centres if Smith plays].
There’s an understanding also that, when Marcus plays at
full-back, he probably has to carry a bit more. If you went with
a ball-playing 12 again and you had someone like a Marcus at
full-back, there’s an understanding that someone’s got to carry,
take the line on. So, those conversations will take place.
#Post#: 144429--------------------------------------------------
Re: England in danger of wasting a maverick talent in Marcus
Smith
DIR By: Banstead Quin
Date: November 5, 2025, 7:18 am
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As referenced on the other chat, utter twaddle from Sinfield.
He's not a fullback, so the difference he offers is he's a 10.
They can't get the balance right for Marcus because they don't
want to play in a way that get's the best out of him, as they
only understand box kicks.
We don't have a ball playing 12 in the squad so why use that as
a reason to not have Marcus at 15? The centres were not
effective against Oz as they're playing one out of position. You
have to give players a run so give Dingwell a proper 13 outside
him. The backs didn't ignite and show what they did in
Argentina, I'd be worrying about that more than Marcus at 15.
#Post#: 144430--------------------------------------------------
Re: England in danger of wasting a maverick talent in Marcus
Smith
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: November 5, 2025, 7:59 am
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Dingwall is a ball playing 12!
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