Marcus Smith is ‘the business’ but both Marcus and Fin Smith won’t fit in the same team

Welsh rugby legend Sam Warburton believes that Harlequins star Marcus Smith can help England challenge for Six Nations and World Cup titles in 2025.

Having won over 30 caps for England since making his international debut in 2021, Smith can now be described as an experienced member of Steve Borthwick's set-up and has the chance to make the fly-half position his own amid the absence of experienced duo Owen Farrell and George Ford.

Speaking on behalf of Canterbury’s launch of their new Stampede boots, Warburton was glowing in his praise of Smith and England's 2025 prospects. "What England fans will be delighted with Marcus Smith is that at times he’s played and it’s not been the same player we’ve seen for Harlequins

"But what we saw in both games (vs New Zealand) was lots of the Marcus Smith that we see at the Quins. Crossfield kicks, ball in hand, defensively he’s so much stronger than he was a few years ago."

"England have got a serious team to challenge for the World Cup and will be competing for next year’s Six Nations.

“England will 100 per cent be up there among the favourites for the next World Cup without a doubt. Watching their games in both tests against New Zealand, they just had some tough calls from the referee so they’re only an interpretation away from two very good results."

“The players they’ve got. In international rugby, you need big, skilful athletes and they’ve got so many skilful, aggressive athletes. [George] Martin has been a revelation. He’d always shown promise in the earlier stages of his career but since the World Cup, he’s been world-class in that second-row with Maro Itoje.

“With [Chandler] Cunningham-South, I always wanted him to start in the Six Nations and he’s now been starting. England have got a serious team to challenge in the World Cup. They’ll be a lot better next year and they’ll be competing for the Six Nations.”

However, Warburton also admitted that Borthwick does have a potential issue on his hands with the emergence of 18-year-old Fin Smith in the same position.

He added: “Marcus Smith is the business and he’s going to be England’s fly-half and they’ve got a great problem with him and Fin Smith and I say problem, it’s not a problem because it’s what coaches dream of but I think they’ll need to be competing for the same shirt because I don’t think they’ll fit in the same team.”