The second half had barely begun. The scoreboard might have been out of sight, but the empty seats told the story. The heat had driven spectators to refreshments, yet Italy remained focused. Deep in England’s 22, they looked set to take the lead when Paolo Garbisi found space out wide. The ball reached Matt Gallagher on the left wing, who stepped inside, seemingly destined for the try line.
Marcus Smith, however, had other plans. Reading the step, he launched into the tackle, stopping Gallagher and disrupting Italy’s momentum. Moments later, England won a penalty at the breakdown and escaped the pressure. At that point, their lead was just four points. Six minutes later, it was 18. Another six, and it had ballooned to 25 after three quickfire tries. Smith scored the first, followed by Tom Curry and Ollie Sleightholme.
England’s victory was not solely down to Smith, but from the moment he was introduced earlier than expected, his influence was evident. Without his try-saving tackle or his own score, England would not have enjoyed the attacking freedom that followed. Curry and Jamie George would not have been in a position to throw ambitious offloads, and England might not have produced their best attacking display of the championship.
Despite his impact, Smith remains an unnatural fit at full-back. He made mistakes, struggling under the high ball, yet his natural talent ensured his contribution was undeniable. The question remains whether he will be content with the role of an impact substitute. Having been deeply disappointed by his omission from the starting XV, he had previously considered a move to Racing 92 before the 2023 World Cup, frustrated by being behind George Ford and Owen Farrell. The decision to stay was influenced by the head coach, who convinced him of his value. His long-term deal with Harlequins keeps him in England for now, but contractual exits are always an option. His selection for the British & Irish Lions tour in June may prove decisive in shaping his future.
Smith did not have to wait long for his introduction. In the eighth minute, Ollie Lawrence suffered an injury and was forced off. Smith received a few words of encouragement from the team manager, a burst of excitement from the crowd when his name appeared on the screen, and loud applause as he entered the field. Twickenham has embraced him as one of its own. His face is one of the first seen when approaching the stadium, and his presence on the pitch ignites energy in the stands.
He took up his position at full-back, with Elliot Daly shifting to outside centre. Daly had already made an impact, creating England’s first try with a well-judged turnover and break down the left. Smith had a slow start, waiting a long time for his first touch. He was caught out of position for Ange Capuozzo’s try and struggled under high balls when challenged by Monty Ioane. His first notable contribution was a precise pass that led to Sleightholme’s opening try. For much of the first half, though, he watched as Fin Smith continued to impress at fly-half, supported by Fraser Dingwall, whose role as a “glue player” helped stabilise England’s midfield.
Despite Italy producing the two most memorable attacking moments of the first half, it was after Marcus Smith’s key tackle that England truly found their rhythm. Three tries in 10 minutes saw them execute the kind of fluid attacking play they had previously struggled to deliver. In this brief period, Smith flourished in his unexpected role.
Though England did not add to their tally before the final whistle, that short spell of attacking excellence could be remembered as a turning point. While routine wins over Italy are rarely significant in the grand scheme, the manner in which England struck in that passage of play stood out. The head coach will surely note that it was Marcus Smith who set it all in motion.
