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Smith or Smith

I followed the Radio London commentary of the Harlequins 24 Glasgow Warriors 7 match, being unwilling to lay out £25 monthly for broadcaster Premium Sports.

So I cannot give a total report but – with the Six Nations looming – I thought I might offer my ha’porth on Fin Smith (Northampton) roundhead v Marcus Smith (Quins).cavalier

I think Fin Smith will be preferred at fly half in the Six Nations certainly if Alex Mitchell is fit.

Marcus had a good autumn  international season but is less predictable.

At 26, four years older than Fin and the same years younger than George Ford, you might have thought that the mercurial Smith has nailed down the England fly half spot. Like Jack Grealish, he has all the skills and is a great entertainer but not consistent. Both decorate but do not dominate.

Marcus has been tried unsuccessfully at full back but is too small. I think he would make in the NZ tradition a decent 2nd 5/8th particularly, as the Slade/Lawrence centre combo is ineffective.

The Roundhead v Cavalier fly half debate is as old as the hills.

Recently Stuart Barnes (Cavalier) v Rob Andrew (Roundhead tactical kicker).

South Africa, the World champions, seem to play better with Handre Pollard a reliable, precise, kicker rather than the more debonair Maine Libbok.

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About Derek Williams

A recently-retired actuary, the long-suffering Derek has been a Quins fan for the best part of three decades. More Posts