Youngs backs Smith to start at scrum-half again after record-breaking Fiji cameo

Ben Youngs, England’s record-capped scrum-half with 127 appearances, has backed Marcus Smith to line up at No.9 again when England face Argentina in round three of the Nations Championship in Santiago del Estero on 18 July.

Smith was originally selected at full-back for Saturday’s Nations Championship opener against Fiji at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, but moved to scrum-half for the final quarter after replacement No.9 Alex Mitchell was forced off with a hamstring injury. England already led 47-8 at the time and were facing a 14-man Fijian side following Simione Kuruvoli’s red card, but Smith’s performance in the unfamiliar position was enough to draw lavish praise from Youngs.

“If he never plays nine again for the rest of his career, although I’d back him to play this weekend, he could go down for that 20 to 30 minute cameo at nine as England’s greatest ever scrum-half. He was that good at nine,” Youngs said on his For the Love of Rugby podcast. “Marcus was the man at nine — front foot ball, the pack getting him on the front foot, scooting out, nice and square at the line. The skillset, the multi-skillset.”

Mitchell has since been ruled out of the Argentina trip, with Raffi Quirke called into the squad as cover. Jack van Poortvliet is expected to retain the starting No.9 jersey, having worn it in both Tests so far, while Quirke and Ben Spencer will compete for a bench spot. Smith’s cameo, however, has added a new dimension to Steve Borthwick’s selection options, with the Harlequins playmaker now capable of covering full-back, fly-half, and scrum-half.

Smith himself appeared open to the idea after the Fiji match, revealing the position is not as foreign to him as it might seem. “I played at scrum-half growing up at school in Singapore and the Philippines,” he said. “If it was agreed with the coaches, of course I’d be happy as cover. I’ve probably played more at scrum-half than full-back. It’s the same thing ultimately — make good decisions and execute your skills. Playing for England is my ultimate aim.”

Elsewhere in the squad, flanker Henry Pollock is pushing for a starting berth in England’s back row after scoring a hat-trick in the victory over Fiji, adding further selection pressure on Borthwick ahead of the Argentina fixture.