Will Greenwood has called on England fly-half Marcus Smith to emulate seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady after England’s narrow 16-15 defeat to New Zealand on Saturday.
The 2003 World Cup winner was also full of praise for the Harlequins fly-half’s performance during the match, claiming that the 25-year-old is becoming increasingly comfortable in the number 10 shirt at international level.
Smith will lead the attack at fly-half for England’s second Test against New Zealand at Eden Park this weekend. But his performance in last Saturday’s match was thrust into the spotlight, with the Quins playmaker missing three of his five attempts on goal.
Despite this, the former England midfielder highlighted the unique skills Smith possesses with the ball in hand and how he improves by playing much closer to the gainline.
Speaking on behalf of NOW, Greenwood said: ‘He [Smith] feels much more comfortable in his shirt now, as he is currently wearing – somewhat – number 10 on his back.
Marcus Smith (pictured) will lead England’s attack in their second Test match against New Zealand
Will Greenwood believes Smith should follow the example of former NFL star Tom Brady (pictured)
Greenwood (pictured) suggested Smith should play closer to the contact areas like Brady
‘I know he’s under pressure from Fin Smith but he’s nose to the grill now. He’s double-pumping and he’s slowing down passes and pushing people into gaps.
‘When he first started he played a bit deeper and more like he does at Quins, which you can also do at club level.
‘Well, he’s not quite as flat as Finn Russell, he’s not quite as flat as Damian McKenzie, but he’s getting flatter. George Ford is still, of the England fly-halves, the one who gets the flattest in attack.
‘But Marcus will get there and he brings so many other things that other fly-halfs don’t have.’
Smith showed this during last weekend’s Test match, walking to the line and then delivering a superb pass to Immanuel Feyi-Waboso on the left wing, who scored England’s second try of the match.
While the fly-half has the unique ability to create moments of magic with the ball in hand, Greenwood offered a suggestion on how he can continue to improve to make England’s attack even more dangerous.
You have to give him [Smith] time to be more comfortable, like [Tom] “Brady needs to stay behind his nose tackle as long as possible before dropping deep into the shotgun, which gives him more space,” Greenwood added.
‘Stay close to the nose, work in traffic, [use] those short passes.
‘Are [Brady’s] “The ability to stay in between the bodies longer is what made him the greatest quarterback of all time and that’s the next challenge for Marcus.”
Brady (right) won seven Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Greenwood said the Harlequins fly-half looked ‘much more comfortable’ in the number 10 shirt
Despite excelling with the ball in hand, Smith missed three goal kicks in the first Test
Fin Baxter is the only change to Steve Borthwick’s side ahead of the second Test. The 22-year-old prop replaces Joe Marler in the front row after his Quins team-mate suffered a foot injury in the first Test.
The All Blacks were also forced to make one change after TJ Perenara suffered an injury during the match in Dunedin. Finlay Christie will join McKenzie at scrum half.
Borthwick is in his second year as England manager. Greenwood believes there is still a lot of work to be done, but the team is playing impressive rugby, especially compared to previous performances.
“I want to stand up and watch this group,” he said. “Super exciting. They’re not going to do everything right. [But] They support each other. Great team. Great environment. And a really good group of leaders.’
He added: ‘England is not finished yet, but I enjoy seeing them.
‘I enjoy watching them play, I like their energy and I’m just really positive about what they’re doing.
“I’m not someone who’s always been a cheerleader. That has to be put into context.
“And often they could do it better,” he said, referring to past achievements.
‘I will now look thematically at the pillars that you need to get right.
“They get it right more often than they get it wrong, and that’s a great trajectory to be on.”
Fin Baxter (centre left) is the only change for Steve Borthwick’s team ahead of the second Test match
Greenwood was also encouraged by the exciting brand of rugby England played in Dunedin
After the positive performance, he added that Borthwick’s team was on ‘the right track’
In preparation for the second Test match against New Zealand, Greenwood has partnered with streaming service NOW, and spoke of the broad access the platform offers to sports fans.
“You can stream the second test match with a NOW Sports Day or Monthly membership,” Greenwood said.
‘It offers instant access to all of Sky’s own rival sporting rights, including this summer’s internationals. The beauty of it is that it’s a flexible way to stream all 12 Sky Sports channels on any device, without the need for a contract. It’s a hassle-free, great value international test match rugby experience.’
Stream the second rugby international between New Zealand and England live on Sky Sports with a NOW Sports Day or Month membership.
