Marcus Smith: I was not prepared when Eddie Jones picked me at 18 – but I am now

Alan Old and Jonny Wilkinson for now remain the only two England fly-halves to have masterminded defeats of the All Blacks in New Zealand.

Old was 27 when England defeated New Zealand 16-10 against all the odds in 1973. The tour of Fiji and New Zealand had been hastily rearranged when terrorist threats against the players had forced a tour of Argentina to be cancelled. The build-up to the Test at Eden Park had offered little hope. England had scraped a 13-12 win over Fiji and then were comfortably beaten by Taranaki, Wellington and Canterbury. And yet England made history.

Thirty years later it was a different story. Sir Clive Woodward’s side, who arrived in Wellington as Six Nations Grand Slam champions, and on their way to becoming crowned world champions four months later, arguably peaked in their 15-13 win. Wilkinson, aged 24, scored all 15 points, but it was his forwards that stood tall, resisting everything that was thrown at them, even with Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back in the sin-bin at one stage.

The feats of yesteryear may seem alien to Steve Borthwick’s class of 2024, even if the England head coach had been on the bench 21 years ago. Marcus Smith was just four when Wilkinson was kicking England to their ‘white orc’ glory at the Cake Tin.

He is just a year older than Wilkinson was in 2003. But even with 32 caps to his name, the Harlequins fly-half has yet to establish himself as England’s first choice No 10. He is certainly more fresh-faced than either of his two predecessors, and yet the appearance belies his maturity.

That sense is underscored when Smith admits that when former England head coach Eddie Jones called him into the squad as an 18-year-old before he had even played a game of men’s rugby, he was “not ready”.

“I was put in a position which, being honest, I probably wasn’t prepared for,” he said. “I guess that’s credit to the environment and people there at the time. They put their arms around me, challenged me and encouraged me to improve.

“That was seven years ago now. It drove me to have more hunger and desire to pull on the England jersey for the first time. And I learned from seeing guys like Owen [Farrell] and George [Ford] play for England for a long time and the drive, determination and mental fortitude those guys have.

“I think it’s put me in a good position at this stage of my career where I realise it’s no coincidence or accident why those guys have amassed hundreds of caps. It’s because of their diligence, their concentration and their focus.

“I think I’ve grown as a person in terms of my leadership and the way I see life and rugby. I’m nowhere near where I want to be in terms of being the finished article from a rugby playing point of view – or as a person – but the lessons I learned from a young age rubbing shoulders with idols of mine who I used to watch growing up have put me in a confident position, in my mind, that I can showcase the best of myself for the team.

“Luckily, this weekend I’ve been given an opportunity and I’m so excited to get out there with guys I’ve got to know very well over the last couple of weeks. Fingers crossed we can deliver a performance that we are proud of – and the country is proud of as well.”

It might be hyperbole, but it feels like Saturday’s Test in Dunedin will provide us with a litmus test of whether Smith can etch his place in history the way that Old and Wilkinson did before him.

With Farrell having made himself ineligible by signing for Racing 92 next season and Ford injured, Smith is England’s senior fly-half.

He was so far behind those two during the World Cup campaign in France that he reinvented himself as a full-back to force his way into the match-day 23-man squad.

I wonder if that is the reason why Borthwick has trusted him to follow in the footsteps of Old and Wilkinson because of the resilience and desperation he showed to force himself into the squad?

“I think, for me, it was a good learning experience and a good life experience. Growing up, I’d never played that position and probably never even had a dream or a vision of ever playing in that position for any team, let alone England at a World Cup.

“So, to be given that opportunity taught me a lot of things. It gave me confidence in terms of the belief that I could play multiple positions at this level. Don’t get me wrong, I made loads of mistakes, but from a skills and high-ball point of view, I’ve really improved. From my defensive side, I’ve really improved – and I’m really grateful for that opportunity at the World Cup, where I had to challenge myself against guys like Freddie Steward.

“He put his arm around me and really helped me with the high-ball stuff. He’s one of the best in the world in the air and his guidance and support I felt really grateful for. So, to have that experience, thinking back now, was a big moment in my career.”

The second-biggest moment in his career was when Borthwick decided after Farrell’s decision to step back from international rugby after the World Cup to entrust Smith with the opportunity to prove that this was his moment to run the England team. The decision was taken in January, only for a calf injury to force him to play a bit-part role off the bench.

But now he has the head coach’s backing to run the back line for the next year, even if Fin Smith, the Northampton Saints fly-half is nipping at his ankles. History beckons, just like for Old and Wilkinson before him.

“Every game you play for England is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Smith adds. “I never really get used to playing for England. And it’s one of those experiences that you can’t describe the feeling until you’re properly out there. And the boys are pretty excited.

“Training has been good the last week and a half or so, in the build-up to this game. And I think the boys are ready, it’s different to any other game. It’s a huge Test match in a new stadium for many of us players. Ultimately, it’s a game of rugby. And we’re all very excited.” History awaits.