I expect England to win on Sunday but I am still scratching my head about their decision to start Marcus Smith at full-back. There doesn’t seem to be any consistency in selection and it feels like they’re just trying to shoehorn him into the team.
If Scott Robertson had been given the England job instead of Steve Borthwick, then Marcus would probably be the starting fly-half.
It would be his team and he would have been given time, comfort, guidance and support to flourish in that position. Ultimately you want Marcus in the team because he’s one of the most promising players in the world and he’s brilliant to watch.
I played alongside him at Harlequins and I’ve seen close up how talented he is. But you shouldn’t try to force all your best players onto the pitch like it’s Football Manager. You pick the best players to pick your style but I don’t think England know what their style is.
It feels like they are stuck between the style Borthwick brought to Leicester and trying to move the ball more.
Marcus Smith’s selection at full-back appears a way to shoehorn him into the England team
England are stuck between Steve Borthwick’s Leicester style and trying to move the ball more
Captain Owen Farrell earned the nod to start at 10 against Fiji with George Ford missing out
It’s not what the public want to hear but the best approach is to set out to dominate the territory and set piece. Keep it really simple because England are never going to outplay Fiji, with or without Marcus’s bits of magic.
The best way to squeeze a team out of the game is with a proper, seasoned full-back who has the specialist skills. It’s not necessarily pretty, but it’s effective. Either way I’d still always go with someone at 15 who has the fundamental position-specific skills that are at an international level.
Marcus hasn’t proven he has that yet and no experience playing there against top teams. I worry that he could be targeted in the backfield. I don’t understand why they didn’t play him at 15 against Samoa to give him a free run in a game they didn’t need to win. Making such a big change for a World Cup quarter-final makes me feel like the coaches are feeling the pressure.
The top teams have consistency of selection and consistency in the way they want to play the game. England have an inexperienced coaching team and I do wonder if they’re being affected by the outside noise.
I get the decision to pick Owen Farrell at 10. George Ford struggled with his defence against Samoa, and Fiji will look to launch powerful runners down his channel. Farrell negates that and his territorial kicking is world class. You want to keep Fiji as far away from your try-line as possible. England should be playing that territorial game and I’m not sure scrum-half Alex Mitchell is the right guy to do that, either. I’d start Danny Care, with Ben Youngs on the bench.
Losing to Fiji in the summer might be a blessing in disguise for England. They’ll know what’s coming and won’t be shocked by their individual abilities. I’m still backing England to reach the semi-finals but I think they’re making life a bit harder than it should be.
MIKE BROWN ON THREE KEY CLASHES
Dan Cole v Eroni Mawi
England have not picked Cole for his play around the park. He’s a set-piece merchant and if he wins the scrum, then England can win penalties for entry to the Fijian 22, or chalk up three pointers. There are big men in Fiji’s forward pack and they’ll try to tire them out.
If Dan Cole helps England win the scrum they can earn penalties against this Fiji side
Alex Mitchell v Frank Lomani
Fiji lost their first-choice No10 before the tournament and Lomani has taken over as their playmaker and kicker. He really throws himself around. Scrum-half Mitchell has been off the pace for the last couple of games and Danny Care is breathing down his neck.
Frank Lomani has taken over as Fiji playmaker and kicker for the Rugby World Cup
Joe Marchant v Waisea Nayacalevu
If you dominate Fiji’s captain physically, his players will see that and it will set the tone.
Nayacalevu has been a great leader for Fiji. The centre has been their talisman. He’s athletic, powerful, breaks the line and brings a lot of energy. It will be a massive defensive test for Marchant.
Fiji’s centre and captain Waisea Nayacalevu is key to setting the tone for his team