Smith makes claim, Chessum and Russell make friends - Prem talking points

It is 21 months since Marcus Smith last started a match at fly-half for England.

In the wake of an opening-round defeat by Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations, the 27-year-old fell behind Fin Smith and George Ford in race for number 10 and never recovered.

Head coach Steve Borthwick has instead preferred him as a full-back or a versatile replacement option.

After Smith stepped into scrum-half against Fiji in the summer, there was even talk of him covering nine as part of his portfolio.

But a start at 10 – his preferred role and one he played for eight successive Tests before being shunted elsewhere – has not even looked likely.