I would not have dropped him from the squad, just the starting team or perhaps even the match day team.
He tackling has been pathetic, and he looks scared or just lacks commitment
I would not have dropped him from the squad, just the starting team or perhaps even the match day team.
He tackling has been pathetic, and he looks scared or just lacks commitment
He’s not been dropped per se. He’s been sent back to Quins for more game time.
Thanks Becs I was horrifurd when hearing they had dropped Marcus. I wish ou Oinker would be more careful.News like this is shattering
And they have replaced him with a player that has almost no game time...back from a serious injury.
Yes. But Quins have a big game and wanted the players back for it.
George Ford was one of the main reasons England couldn’t compete in the WC final. Stunning they would drop Marcus Smith, who is the only player England has who can create space, for Ford.
He’s not been dropped !!
The squad for France won’t be out until next week.
Okay got it. It takes us more mature chaps a little longer to grasp things.
Ha ha ha ! No it’s a strange situation with all the comings and going’s of the squad. These weeks off in the middle of the tournament cause confusion amongst us all !
Mozart in his simplicity blamed Ford for the loss of England in the final. Although Ford was a mess - he was replaced at flyhalf by Farrell in minute 50 in that position and the brilliant De Allende and Du Toit neutralized him as well, He was even worse than Ford playing at flyhalf in that match. How people can suffer from obsessions and delusion is amazing.
As far as Smith is concerned - he is not a brilliant flyhalf in my book - he seems to be exceptional on club level - but unable to take the step up to international level.
Once more Rooiarse has shot from the hip without knowing all the facts behind the "DROPPING".
Is it a case of jumping the gun or just seeking attention?
Both I would say.
Best to read and understand the complete article and actual facts for the "Dropping" before posting BS.
Thank you becs for completing the story.
No mozart age does not come into play in this case for the "One eyed Ahole"
PTSD and Dud neutralize an opponent? 
"Is it a case of jumping the gun or just seeking attention?
Both I would say."
You genius, you...!
And he’s back in the newly revised squad to train for the French match….
Where will England be in rugby ranking if they lose against France - the ranking will not look Pretty, I know Smith si good on club level - but it seems to me that he cannot take the step up to test level yet.
Of course he has been dropped he certainly did not need to go back to Quin’s to get more game time, he has not been injured - what a load of crap
Stupid Borthwick might be trying to spin the not been dropped thing but he is lying
If Smith is not in the next match 23 it means he has been dropped - end of
Not good signs for England if this is what Borthwick is doing - retaining Farrel at 10 is a laugh as is Ford for Smith, the persistence in average George at 2 and the return of Cole as back up prop
All smacks of sad conservatism
It’s highly likely we will lose to France, Mike.
As I said, he wasn’t dropped, he was just sent back to Quins for game time.
He’s in the 27 which will be whittled down for the match day squad. He will be on the bench, no doubt.
Why did he need more game time? He has been playing all season
Borthwick is confused and has no idea what he is doing
They wanted him to sharpen up. Quins also asked for players to be returned as they had a big game.
becs,do you want him in the team ?
What a load of rubbish he never needed sharpening up - if anyone did it would be useless Farrell
It’s highly likely we will lose to France, Mike.
Highly likely how. 10,20,30 pc chances to lose or something. May be considered too high.
FR has been struggling with the ways rucks are reffed. It impacts a lot their game and FR has lost all certainties they have built over the past couple of years. At the same time, EN is a usual recipient for favourable calls (not so lately, EN was awarded more penalties against IT in 20 minutes than IT usually concedes over a game, up to the point that Italians rebelled and the ref was forced to cover for an red card aggression committed by an Italian player)
blob, Farrell is playing poorly so if he gives Smith a crack, so be it.
Chances are we’re going to lose this one anyway, so ?
I just hope he gets more than the 14 seconds he gave him last time out !
Any team has a chance to lose.
EN has a favourite in this game, by far. As to the fly half, the weather cast is rainy day so a conservative fly half fits more than a creative one.
Expectation for the game: slow, brutal, dodgy ref calls, not a great rugby game to say the least.
Must be played though.
England are not favourites !
Weather is uncertain at the moment. It could be clear, raining or snowing at this rate.
As far as I heard Marcus Smih is fed up and wants to come and play for the Boks :) :)
That might well be the case 
Just Kidding Becs and hope Smith can be back in the Saddle soon as he brings a new Dimension to Englands Backline…Ferrell is mostly to full of himself, does have his moments, but not close to Marcus in Talent @ Flyhalf.
I know you were .
It’s a difficult one really. Smith is hamstrung when Farrell is 12 so it really does have to be one or the other.
I guess it depends on what game plan they want us to play. They both have very different styles.
I would have Marcus @ Pivot, Slade 12 and Ferrell 13…. I think that would work better.
Lawrence has been going well with Slade in the Centre.
You mean Ollie Lawrence right? Yup he is a solid player….low centre of gravity and Strong…By the way, Today is International Woman,s day…so have a great one Becs and eve off Course.
Yes, he is a decent player. If Dan Kelly hadn’t got injured, we might have seen him this 6 Nations.
Oh thank you, Mpower
Papers are reporting Farrell dropped to the bench and Smith is starting…..
Farrell has not been in form for a good while now. Perhaps he has been overplayed and carrying niggling injuries.
Farrell's pole kicking has also not been good lately, and he seemed like he was playing injured for the EOYT.
Given Smith is just as good a pole kicker, it would have made sense to have let him take the kicking responsibilities for the EOYT, and even in the 6 nations when both were on the pitch at the same time.
Having Smith and Farrell together in the midfield is a small 10/12 combo and is more suited to a running than a defence game.
England's defence has been poor in the 6 nations, and having some more power in the midfield with a specialist inside centre could be a better option. Perhaps too much space in the inside channel.
So perhaps it will be Farrell that becomes the bench option, at least until his form returns.
As I said all along, he wasn’t dropped, he was sent back to Quins for a reason.
And now he starts ahead of Farrell, who is benched.
Genge captains the side.
This will give England a better chance of winning France and Ellis Genge captaining, is a Good Choice….Tough as Nails prop….going to be interesting Game.
.,
Can someone please inform RooiA..e.
"Can someone please inform RooiA..e."
If the plan all along was to drop Owen Farrell, why send your first choice flyhalf to go play with a club team during test preparation?
The 10 is the key decision maker, so how did the team practises go without the key man?
Perhaps Smith just had a very good club game (he got man of the match)- and that changed Borthwick's decision.
Sorry to have burst your bubble Rooi but hats off for being a man to admit you read it incorrectly.
Well, now back to your sad pathetic and alcohol fuelled existence in RSA comrade.
By the way my life is filled with fun, joy and laughter surrounded by family and dear friends plus secure and safe in my surroundings I do not need chemicals to stay"HAPPY" and focused.
Perhaps you should make the necessary changes sooner than later.
Cheers.
With Peeper predicting a surprise win for the Poms, they were pretty much doomed.
To Mrs Searle's credit a prediction is not something anyone - in most instances - can say was an exact science. One would have thought that England would have at least lost with dignity.
Yes they were a ragtag bunch at the end….literally clueless. And right now Harrassmiss’ reputation hinges on the win over these clowns last November.
Yes, Erasputin has been hinging on a few meagre results to gloss over poor returns since 2018. It's quite incredible how he has been able to dupe South Africans for so long.
Perhaps Smith just had a very good club game (he got man of the match)- and that changed Borthwick's decision.
So unlikely. Not even credible.
The decision reeks of populism. In a strict meaning, not the deformed definition as it is now that pits a supposed elite against commoners and an effort to appeal to them, as if it was a bad thing.
As the situation is, a coach is the only one naming a squad, he may take opinions from staff etc The list reflects only his mind.
Populism happened when a guy attempts to dilute the consequences of the monopoly on decision making by looking at popular stances and adopt them.
Setting the creative flyhalf was inspired by popularity, people wanted him as a starter. So in the process, the EN coach diluted his responsibility, he named a guy who was popularily wanted. The debacle is not his responsibility only, but also the responsibility of those who thought this would work. Nobody in the end is responsible, supporters never had the power to name the player as a starter and the guy in charge did what supporters called him to do.
The decision was disastrous. It was cruelly inept.
The mistake was trivial: thinking a player outside of any other reference than himself.
Here the guy was dropped because of hisg lack of puntin performances. Cruel in retrospect as this aspect of his game would not have made any change. Even if he had missed the kick the other guy succeeded (unlikely), this would have changed nothing.
The mistake was to reduce the differences between the two to the only kicking issues, the other would bring that and even more.
The problem is that the regular captain brings qualities than neither his half fly and first row substitutes do.
Rugby is highly political and loves cronyism. The guy is a son of a rugby personality which gives him pull over refs. He brings venom and dirt to the field that could have helped the english squad.
Ironically, part of the debacle came from England not being allowed to play unfairly. A few dodgy calls now and then but all in all, English players behaved. They did not bring the vice they are used to.
And right now Harrassmiss’ reputation hinges on the win over these clowns last November.
It has probably more, the WC win weights.
Rooinek
Hall Of Fame
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Steve Borthwick has dumped the talented and promising young Marcus Smith from his squad while retaining Owen Farrell who is really a centre and can't convert kicks from in front of the posts along with the bog ordinary and fragile George Ford.
Not looking good for England . . .