Marcus Smith v Fin Smith showdown OFF as England star answers Harlequins SOS

Adam Kyriacou
Marcus Smith lines up at full-back for Harlequins on Friday.

Marcus Smith lines up at full-back for Harlequins on Friday.

The direct showdown between England fly-half duo Marcus Smith and Fin Smith won’t take place in the Premiership on Friday as the former makes a positional move.

Harlequins star Marcus Smith fills the jersey of Leigh Halfpenny for the cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens clash, who joins Tyrone Green on the team’s injury list.

The 25-year-old is no stranger to the number 15 jersey as he has impressed at full-back on England duty under head coach Steve Borthwick before nailing down the 10 position during their mid-year Test schedule. Fin Smith was the bench option in both clashes with the All Blacks as George Ford missed out with an injury.

Ford injury

Ford was back in Premiership action for Sale Sharks last week but suffered another injury early on in the match against Saracens, which has sidelined him once again.

That has flung the door open to both Smiths to impress Borthwick in the lead-up to the Autumn Nations Series and a clash between the duo was expected this Friday.

However, injuries in the Harlequins’ back three means that Marcus Smith has been called upon to fill the voids of Halfpenny and Green for this Round Three fixture.

Also missing in the Quins backline due to injury is Cadan Murley, Cassius Cleaves and Luke Northmore, whilst new wing signing Rodrigo Isgro is not yet available.

Head coach Danny Wilson has opted to move his England star to number 15 and bring former Cardiff fly-half Jarrod Evans back into the number 10 slot this week.

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Veteran Danny Care returns at scrum-half while in the midfield, Lennox Anyanwu links up with Will Joseph, who comes in for the injured Northmore to face Saints.

Oscar Beard and Nick David start on the wings, with Cleaves picking up an injury against Newcastle, meaning Harlequins are minus several backs for the away game.

Another England international, Alex Dombrandt, is also out injured so Chandler Cunningham-South starts the game at number eight on the back of a superb 2023/24.

Other players who will be on Borthwick’s radar this Friday will be Northampton backs George Furbank, Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall and Ollie Sleightholme.

Saints also have Tom Pearson, Alex Coles, Trevor Davison, Curtis Langdon and Emmanuel Iyogun in the starting pack, with the promising Henry Pollock in jersey 20.

Chances to impress Borthwick and his coaching staff are fast running out ahead of November when the Red Rose will take on the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks.

The teams

Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank (c), 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Tom James, 8 Sam Graham, 7 Tom Pearson, 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 Alex Coles, 4 Chunya Munga, 3 Trevor Davison, 2 Curtis Langdon, 1 Emmanuel Iyogun
Replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Tom West, 18 Luke Green, 19 Temo Mayanavanua, 20 Henry Pollock, 21 Archie McParland, 22 Tom Seabrook, 23 James Ramm

Harlequins: 15 Marcus Smith, 14 Nick David, 13 Will Joseph, 12 Lennox Anyanwu, 11 Oscar Beard, 10 Jarrod Evans, 9 Danny Care, 8 Chandler Cunningham-South, 7 Will Evans, 6 Jack Kenningham, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Titi Lamositele, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Fin Baxter
Replacements: 16 Nathan Jibulu, 17 Jordan Els, 18 Simon Kerrod, 19 Dino Lamb, 20 James Chisholm, 21 Will Porter, 22 Bryn Bradley, 23 Cameron Anderson

Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant Referees: George Selwood, Wayne Falla
TMO: Rowan Kitt

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