Former rugby international lays into Marcus Smith, says fly-half 'doesn't have what it takes'

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“I don’t think he’s the answer, to be honest,” the South African said.

“A great club player and against lesser Test sides, he will always open them up. But if you’re marking yourself against the best, which is the Boks and Irish defence systems, I don’t think he can unlock them.

“I think he’s too erratic, he will try the miracle stuff which may come off but in terms of a general game management point of view, I don’t think he’s got what it takes to deliver the killer blow against those top sides.

“The one guy I do think can do that is Finn Russell. He’s proven it time and time again. But Marcus is not the answer for me.”

He added: “If Marcus Smith was playing for Scotland, where they’ve got a different mindset where they attack- like Duhan van der Merwe’s third try is exactly that. Turnover ball, Finn probably the worst kick of his life gets charged down, somehow lands in a Scottish hand, gets over the gainline, the very next touch is a cross-kick again.

“He’s not afraid of making mistakes. And I think this English side, because they’re not playing the amount of rugby that Scotland would want to play, if you make a mistake it gets amplified and I don’t think that suits him.

“Whereas at Harlequins, he can play.”

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15. George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 7 caps)

14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 2 caps)

13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 60 caps)

12. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 22 caps) 

11. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)

10. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 94 caps) – vice captain

9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 13 caps)

1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 60 caps) – vice captain

2. Jamie George (Saracens, 88 caps) – captain  

3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 110 caps)

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 79 caps) – vice captain   

5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 10 caps)

6. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)

7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 33 caps)

8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 28 caps)

16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 10 caps)

17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 91 caps)  

18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 36 caps)

19. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 3 caps)

20. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 15 caps)

21. Danny Care (Harlequins, 99 caps) 

22. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 30 caps)

23. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 67 caps)

Powered by a sophisticated algorithm meticulously trained on extensive historical data, player performance metrics, team head-to-head statistics, and various other relevant factors, Sports4Cast

Their team of expert data scientists and rugby aficionados has fine-tuned the algorithm to provide you with precise and up-to-date predictions for every match in the Six Nations Rugby tournament.

From scrutinizing team form and injury updates to monitoring playing conditions and historical head-to-head records, we leave no stone unturned in delivering the most comprehensive insights to enhance your rugby viewing experience.

Get ready for Scotland's next showdown as they step onto the field for their fourth Six Nations match, facing off against an increasingly formidable Italian squad. With two victories and one loss under their belt from the initial three games, Gregor Townsend's crew is primed for action.

The journey kicked off with a thrilling 27-26 triumph over Wales, setting the stage for a heart-stopping encounter. Despite a narrow 20-16 defeat on home turf against France, Scotland roared back triumphantly, stunning England with a 30-21 victory in the legendary Calcutta Cup clash at Murrayfield.

Mark your calendars for the Italy versus Scotland clash happening on Saturday, March 9, with the action kicking off at 2:15 PM GMT. The battleground? None other than the iconic Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Don't miss a moment of the action as ITV brings the match live to your screens. And keep an eye out for Angus Gardner from Australia, who will be officiating the showdown

Super computer prediction: Italy 16-22 Scotland

England is gearing up for a showdown against Ireland at Twickenham in the Six Nations, aiming to recover from a tough loss to Scotland at Murrayfield.

Steve Borthwick's squad faced a formidable challenge in Edinburgh, where they were convincingly outmatched. Now, they must regroup to tackle an Ireland team that has emerged as a dominant force in the tournament.

Ireland showcased their strength by trouncing Wales 31-7 in Dublin, setting the stage for a compelling clash against England, a team they haven't fallen to in over three years.

Mark your calendars for the England versus Ireland clash on Saturday, March 9, with the action kicking off at 4:45 PM GMT at Twickenham, the iconic home of English rugby.

Don't miss a minute of the action as ITV brings the match live to your screens. And keep an eye out for Georgia's Nika Amashukeli, who will be officiating this highly anticipated matchup.

Super computer prediction: England 16-23 Ireland

France embarks on a journey to Cardiff to face Wales in the fourth round of the Six Nations Championship, with both teams carrying their fair share of concerns into the match.

Wales suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Ireland in Dublin, making them the only team to lose all three opening matches of the competition.

Meanwhile, France, lacking the vigor that propelled them towards a memorable home World Cup campaign last year, narrowly escaped a potential disaster at home against Italy. Paolo Garbisi's last-minute penalty struck the post, salvaging a draw for the French side.

Circle Sunday, March 10, on your calendars for the Wales versus France showdown, kicking off at 3 PM. The battleground? None other than the illustrious Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Tune in to the BBC for live coverage of the match, with streaming available on BBC iPlayer for those on the go.

Keeping things in check on the field will be England's Luke Pearce, taking charge as the referee in Cardiff.

Super computer prediction: Wales 22-25 France

Our latest quiz invites you to identify those who have captained their nations to Guinness Six Nations glory. It's worth noting that in certain instances, there may be multiple captains from the same year due to factors such as injuries and rotation.

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