- Fly-half was replaced by Eddie Jones with England in control
- Harlequins’ Tabai Matson says move must have been planned
Eddie Jones’s decision to take Marcus Smith off at a crucial juncture in England’s Calcutta Cup defeat by Scotland was premeditated and a missed opportunity for the fly-half, according to his Harlequins coach, Tabai Matson.
England were 17-10 ahead at Murrayfield – with Smith scoring all of their points – when Jones replaced him and introduced George Ford in the 63rd minute. Scotland proceeded to mount a dramatic comeback with Ford’s main contribution a disappointing touch-finder as Jones’s side sought to snatch victory in the closing minutes.
Written by Gerard Meagher
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/feb/06/marcus-smiths-club-coach-questions-substitution-in-england-defeat under the title “Marcus Smith’s club coach questions substitution in England defeat”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
