Sawt Falasteen - Marcus Smith starts for England in Rugby World Cup warm-up

NYSE - LSE

RBGPF	-0.99%	70	$
AZN	-0.52%	161.63	$
CMSC	0.19%	21.03	$
RIO	0.87%	102.75	$
GSK	-0.44%	50.44	$
RYCEF	-0.25%	19.75	$
CMSD	0.05%	20.79	$
BTI	-0.43%	55.68	$
BCE	-0.04%	23.4	$
NGG	-1.41%	78.05	$
RELX	-1.56%	35.15	$
BCC	0.62%	76.31	$
VOD	0.12%	16.07	$
BP	-1.23%	43.93	$
JRI	-0.75%	12.08	$

Marcus Smith starts for England in Rugby World Cup warm-up / Photo: Adrian DENNIS - AFP/File

Marcus Smith starts for England in Rugby World Cup warm-up

SPORTS 03.08.2023

Marcus Smith has been given the opportunity to play his way into England's World Cup squad after being picked at fly-half for Saturday's World Cup warm-up against Wales in Cardiff.

Text size:

Smith is preferred for the first of four matches ahead of Owen Farrell and George Ford, both of whom started the Premiership final on May 27.

Steve Borthwick names his World Cup squad on Monday and, with Smith thought to be behind Farrell and Ford in the pecking order, he has the platform at the Principality Stadium to convince his head coach that a third fly-half should be taken to France.

Danny Care joins the 24-year-old at half-back and the side is littered with fringe contenders for the final 33-man group - with no players from Premiership finalists Saracens and Sale present in the starting XV.

Ellis Genge captains the team but, apart from Care, it is an inexperienced line-up, with fast-rising Northampton flanker Tom Pearson making his debut at openside.

England play Wales at Twickenham the following weekend before fixtures against Ireland and Fiji later in August.

Borthwick's team launch their World Cup campaign against Argentina in Marseille on September 9.

A.AbuSaada--SF-PST

Sawt Falasteen - Marcus Smith starts for England in Rugby World Cup warm-up

Marcus Smith starts for England in Rugby World Cup warm-up

Featured

'Role model' Stokes set to open for Adelaide Strikers

Veteran Wallaby Slipper targets fifth World Cup after Brumbies deal

Sabalenka races into US Open third round

Sabalenka storms into US Open third round as Pegula, Medvedev advance