Harlequins coach reveals what ‘unbelievable talent’ Marcus Smith’s goal is as he makes long awaited return to PREM Rugby

Marcus Smith returns to the Gallagher PREM a “different player”, determined to shed his Jack-of-all-trades tag, according to one of English rugby’s most respected coaches.
The Harlequins star views himself as firmly a specialist fly-half, the position he will occupy when Saracens visit the Stoop on Sunday for the clash of London’s arch rivals.
Yet since losing the England jersey to Fin Smith in last year’s Six Nations he has played three out of four Tests at fullback and been dropped to the bench for the other.
On the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, he appeared in seven of the 10 matches, but did not start a single game at number 10.
As Smith prepares to throw himself into the new campaign Dan Biggar, starting fly-half for the 2021 Lions, summed up the challenge he faces.
“Marcus’ versatility is brilliant for getting him involved in match day squads, and he’ll benefit from that,” Biggar says. “But for whatever reason that versatility probably doesn’t help him nail down one position.
‘I think he’s an amazing talent’
“I love Marcus, I’ve said this time after time, I think he’s an amazing talent. But there’s lots of good options at 10 and at 15, so it’s hard for him to nail down one of those positions.”
Just this week a panel of experts, polled exclusively by Planet Rugby as to the player most likely to start at fly-half for England this autumn, was divided between George Ford and Fin Smith.
Biggar, Freddie Burns, Ugo Monye and David Flatman were asked the question. The other Smith did not get much of a look-in.
So much for the view from the outside then. Talk to Toby Booth, who rejoined Quins last month as forwards consultant, and the picture he paints is of a player single-minded in his pursuit of regaining the keys to number 10.
“I don’t think Marcus is looking to fit in [as a jack of all trades],” said the former England ‘A’, London Irish, Bath and Ospreys coach. “He’s looking to stake a claim.
“Marcus is an unbelievable talent and his talent has got him a long way. He’s very passionate about Quins and also his country, and he wants to play in a starting shirt.
‘He’s said to me he feels a different player’
“I think you’ll see a slightly different Marcus now. He’s said to me he feels a different player as a result of his experience with the Lions and working with those coaches.
“In the same way you learn things as a coach from being in different environments, working with Andy Farrell and his team will have shown him different methods.
“For me, that’s a nice thing to see. It shows Marcus is maturing into a player who is taking ownership of his own career. Where that gets him, we’ll see.
“We’ll put support around him like we do all of our players. We’ll also create a challenging environment, that’ll be driven by him, to get him to where his talent decides.”
Marcus Smith is still regarded as something of a ‘boy wonder’ in English rugby despite having 44 caps and it being eight years since he trained with the senior England squad whilst still a pupil at Brighton College.
Now 26, he is actually the most experienced player in the Quins starting line-up this weekend; his 178 appearances more than 40 more than the next on the list, captain Cadan Murley.
Quins have lost their first two games, without Smith at the helm, to lie ninth of 10 teams in the fledgling table. But boss Jason Gilmore has no doubt having their talisman back will spark an improvement.
“He’s our quarterback,” said the Australian, speaking to Rugbypass, before comparing him to Wallaby great Quade Cooper. “Just the energy and the confidence he brings to the other guys. Where you sit in the dressing room and Smithy’s in there, you definitely get a boost.”
With Steve Borthwick due to announce his England squad for the November Tests in a fortnight, Smith has a maximum three club games to shape the head coach’s thinking. The clock is ticking.
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