‘Not got what it takes’ – Ex-Springboks star delivers withering assessment of ‘erratic’ Marcus Smith
Marcus Smith in England training during the 2024 Six Nations.
Former South Africa centre Robbie Fleck has delivered a damning verdict on England fly-half Marcus Smith ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations encounter against Ireland.
The 25-year-old has recovered from a calf injury and will take his place on the bench for their Round Four clash this weekend.
Smith has been in outstanding form this season and was favourite to take the reins in the Six Nations before that lower leg issue ruled him out for the first three matches.
England’s fly-half options
George Ford has therefore started at 10 for England with the other Smith, Northampton Saints playmaker Fin, coming on in the second period.
However, the younger Smith has dropped out of the 23 to allow Marcus to return, but Fleck is not a fan of the Harlequin.
“I don’t think he’s the answer, to be honest,” he told the Boks Office podcast.
“A great club player and against lesser Test sides, he will always open them up. But if you’re marking yourself against the best, which is the Boks and Irish defence systems, I don’t think he can unlock them.
“I think he’s too erratic, he will try the miracle stuff which may come off but in terms of a general game management point of view, I don’t think he’s got what it takes to deliver the killer blow against those top sides.
“The one guy I do think can do that is Finn Russell. He’s proven it time and time again. But Marcus is not the answer for me.”
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Another Bok legend’s view
Springboks legend Schalk Burger had a different opinion to Fleck, stating that Smith has not been helped by England’s game plan.
Although there is a suggestion that the Red Rose are trying to expand their style of play, Steve Borthwick – and Eddie Jones before him – prioritised set-piece and defence over attack.
“If Marcus Smith was playing for Scotland, where they’ve got a different mindset where they attack,” Burger said.
“Duhan van der Merwe’s third try is exactly that. Turnover ball, Finn with probably the worst kick of his life gets charged down, somehow lands in a Scottish hand, gets over the gain line, the very next touch is a cross-kick again.
“He’s not afraid of making mistakes. And I think this English side, because they’re not playing the amount of rugby that Scotland would want to play, if you make a mistake it gets amplified and I don’t think that suits him.
“Whereas at Harlequins, he can play.”
