Marcus Smith will retain England No 10 shirt for Test series opener against New Zealand...
after dazzling display during dominant victory against Japan England will fly from the Far East to Auckland after dominant win over Japan Marcus Smith produced a dazzling display with a try and two assists in the game Steve Borthwick is expected to keep changes to a minimum against New Zealand By Chris Foy Published: 06:51 EDT, 23 June 2024 | Updated: 06:51 EDT, 23 June 2024 e-mail View comments Marcus Smith is set to retain the England No 10 shirt for the Test series opener against New Zealand as head coach Steve Borthwick is expected to keep changes to a minimum. The national team fly from the Far East to Auckland today, ready for back-to-back encounters with the All Blacks , in Dunedin on July 6 and at the Kiwis’ Eden Park fortress seven days later. England prepared for this daunting mission with an emphatic 52-17 victory over Japan here on Saturday and after Smith dazzled at fly-half, with a scorching try and two eye-catching assists, he will be retained as the primary playmaker, ahead of Fin Smith – who is destined to deputise again.
Borthwick’s quest for selection stability faces challenges, firstly due to a scare over Chandler Cunningham-South, after the Harlequins flanker’s impressive, try-scoring first Test start. ‘Chandler took a knock early in the game – he rolled his ankle,’ said Borthwick. ‘It shouldn’t be an issue.
It might affect a few days’ training b.
