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#Post#: 156443--------------------------------------------------
Stand-in scrum-half Smith demands more from England
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: July 14, 2026, 11:56 am
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England still have plenty to improve on despite the 11-try win
over Fiji, says Marcus Smith - who will only be satisfied with
the side's summer work if they end Argentina's unbeaten run in
Santiago del Estero this weekend.
England face the Pumas on Saturday at Estadio Unico Madre de
Ciudades, 600 miles north west of the country's capital Buenos
Aires.
Argentina have played twice at the 30,000-capacity stadium -
which was opened in 2021 - and have won both matches, against
Scotland and South Africa.
"It's nice to get reaffirmation that we're on the right path,"
Smith told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast as he reflected on the
win against Fiji, which broke a five-match losing run for
England.
"Obviously we're not perfect and there's a lot of things we need
to work on, but we'll always leave it out there and commit as
hard as we can to getting better.
"That record [Argentina's unbeaten run in Santiago del Estero]
is there to be chased and broken, hopefully.
"We want to finish on a high so that we can all enjoy our summer
holidays and have something to smile about."
The 27-year-old finished the 73-8 win over Fiji at scrum-half,
after a hamstring tweak forced off replacement number nine Alex
Mitchell with 23 minutes remaining.
Smith - a specialist fly-half who has played full-back for
England over the past 18 months - did well in the role,
prompting suggestions his versatility could give coach Steve
Borthwick the option of naming seven forwards among his eight
replacements.
"I used to play there when I was at school in Singapore and the
Philippines," said Smith, who moved to England aged 13, about
his scrum-half role.
"I haven't played there or trained there for a while, but in my
head, I try and simplify the game. I play what's in front of me,
do the basics well, and I hope I did that for the team."
Argentina is the final leg in a three-week 25,000-mile Nations
Championship odyssey for England.
It will be the first time Smith, who toured with the British and
Irish Lions last summer when England played two Tests away to
the Pumas, has been to the country.
However he is looking forward a reunion with a clutch of
Argentines, including Rodrigo Isgro and Guido Petti, alongside
whom he plays at Harlequins.
"I'm excited to try their mate [a South American herbal tea] and
see my club-mates," said Smith.
"They are an extremely passionate people, who wear their heart
on their sleeve and there's a lot of history in this game."
HTML https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c621265gl77o
#Post#: 156445--------------------------------------------------
Re: Stand-in scrum-half Smith demands more from England
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: July 14, 2026, 2:29 pm
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--- Quote ---
>
> "It's nice to get reaffirmation that we're on the right path,"
Smith told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast as he reflected on the
win against Fiji, which broke a five-match losing run for
England.
--- End Quote ---
I'm not convinced by that yet. Yes, England have proven they can
squelch and joy and verve from a game and so stop a team that is
entertaining, but I wait to see if they can manage a team with
more arrows to their bow.
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