[ad_1]
There was a surreal 25 minutes at Twickenham where Marcus Smith was practically the only man in the place who had no idea he was to be a British & Irish Lion.
News had filtered through just after half-time that he was to cover Finn Russell, who has a minor tear in his achilles, and fly to South Africa on Sunday.
The problem was that he was still playing for England against Canada – so every fan winced with each minute Eddie Jones, who knew the news on Friday, left him on the field.
Finally, having kicked a ninth conversion out of nine Smith went off in the 65th minute, and Twickenham rose to him.
Marcus Smith is now a Lion after being called up because of Finn Russell’s Achilles problem
Smith kicked all nine of his conversions for England on an afternoon when new boys shone
Adam Radwan (pictured) and Jamie Blamire scored hat-tricks as England crushed Canada
He might have felt it an odd reaction, having not have heard some in the 10,000 trying to tell him ‘Marcus, you’re a Lion!’
Smith went straight down the tunnel, where team manager – and Lion himself – Richard Hill broke the news.
‘I thought I was in trouble!’ said Smith after.
‘I was shaking and I don’t really know what to say. I am lost for words, I can’t believe what is going on.’
Having talked logistics with Charlotte Gibbons, the team operations manager, Smith took his seat in the stands, put on a mask and fist-bumped his happy team-mates, trying to let it all sink in.
Blamire’s tries all came from rolling mauls as the England pack dominated at Twickenham
After the game, when he was live on television, the whole England group gathered around to heckle and cheer him on.
It was a happy scene, and the boyish 22-year-old could not stop smiling – and why not? In three weeks at Twickenham he has won the Premiership title, his first England cap and been called up to the Lions.
‘It has all been a blur,’ he added.
‘If your team mates respect you as a bloke and a player I’m happy.
‘Eddie just said go out there and enjoy it and learn as much as you can and come back a better player.
‘I am massively overwhelmed. I will have to sit by myself for 10 minutes tonight and take it all in. I don’t think I will until I get out there.’
Smith has never been to South Africa, but will have his PCR tests and fly today (SUN) to join up with Warren Gatland’s squad.
Joe Cokanasiga is also continuing his impressive return to the fold with two more tries
Lewis Ludlow was perhaps lucky to avoid a red card after a clumsy knee to Jack Ilnicki’s face
Picked ahead of George Ford and Johnny Sexton, those not involved in summer Tests, it is a remarkable story.
The only downer for him, if there is one, is that he will now have to sacrifice his ticket to Wembley’s Euro final today.
Smith was planning to watch England play Italy – but now his brothers Luc and Tomas will have to fight it out for the prize.
‘I still think it is going to come home, so when I land tomorrow I hope for good news!’ he smiled.
‘I have got to wait and see if my brother is around!’
It was at Centaurs Rugby Club in Singapore where Filipino-born Smith fell in love with rugby.
At Twickenham on Saturday he found his old coach from those days, Tim Lambert, to share this special moment.
‘We used to all our Saturdays there, play kwick-cricket after and have a bacon baguette if I was good!’ he explained.
Ross Braude (on the ground celebrating) had a rare moment of joy with an early Canada score
‘It’s somewhere close to my heart for sure.’
Amid it all Jones was keen to dampen the hype around his young fly-half.
‘He’s played two Tests against USA and Canada,’ he said.
‘We’re pleased for him, it’s a great learning opportunity for him, he’ll play with some good players against some good teams in South Africa, it will speed up his education process a bit.
‘He’s got a very good attitude and great desire to keep working. If he doesn’t believe everything that’s written about him he’ll be alright.’
Smith can be forgiven for lapping it all up during the most amazing three weeks of his life.
[ad_2]
Source link
Have something to say? Leave a comment: