England think about Smith at full-back for Rugby World Cup opener
Defence coach Kevin Sinfield revealed Harlequins star Smith has jumped on the probability to attempt the brand new place, having fun with cameos towards Ireland and Fiji final month.
Fly-half Smith had by no means performed within the No 15 function earlier than, however insisted he would relish the chance when quizzed on the problem by Sinfield.
The 24-year-old may both cowl each 10 and 15 from the bench towards the Pumas in Marseille – or edge forward of Freddie Steward in England’s beginning XV.
Leicester star Steward has been an ever-present in each the tail-end of Eddie Jones’ reign and Borthwick’s full nine-match stint as head coach.
Smith would supply a livewire attacking dimension from the backfield although, leaving Sinfield excited concerning the additional choices his game-breaking abilities would supply within the place.
“It was a question I posed to him, ‘have you ever played 15?’,” mentioned Sinfield. “His first answer was, ‘no, but I would love to’.
“He embraced it straight away. That response was music to our ears because you’re looking for tactical variation in the players we select.
“And when you’re putting the team together the 15 and then the bench, understanding who can move where.
“We started utilising some of this in training long before Anthony Watson sadly had to pull out, who possibly could have been an option at fullback as well. It gives us a bit more variation.
“So, the initial answer was wonderful from him. But we’ve worked on it in training, we’ve seen him play there. If through running somebody there in training there were any doubts, we wouldn’t have continued with it.”
Sinfield hailed Smith’s artistic genius as providing England an nearly preternatural additional edge with the ball in hand.
“You’ll have all seen what a magician he is with the ball, step off both feet, quick, can beat the opposition for fun,” Sinfield mentioned.
“So why not try to give him a bit more time and space than he would typically get at 10, try to get him a little bit wider? We have been working on it for some weeks now with him in training.
“He’s been incredible at the back. To have him in the team and available, to have the option of him either coming on at 10 or 15, has been really good for us.
“His combination with George Ford, as well, and with Owen Farrell when he’s been alongside him at 10 and 12 not 10 and 15 just gives us a different way of playing.”