News about Marcus Smith

A High Court judge who sent a love letter to a young member of staff asking her to go on walks with him has escaped being sacked. Mr Justice Marcus Smith's handwritten message to the woman in a 'vulnerable' junior role left her feeling 'distressed, angry, let down and devalued', an investigation was told. The 57-year-old judge, who is president of the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), acknowledged giving the letter was 'plainly inappropriate' and had caused the woman 'significant emotional distress'. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) said he was given a formal reprimand, 'the most serious sanction short of removal from office', after a probe concluded he had 'shown little insight into why his actions were so wrong'.

CHRIS FOY: Before heading to the airport for their 12,000-mile journey home, England's tour party took a ferry to Waiheke Island to enjoy lunch overlooking the Hauraki Gulf and sing a few songs. After being on the go for 13 months, it was a deserved opportunity to relax and unwind together, come to terms with another frustrating, jarring defeat and reflect on everything they have been through in the course of a marathon season. It didn't end how they wanted it to, but given where they were last summer, England could take comfort from the sense that they are on the up. So much has happened during a campaign which begun last June, when Steve Borthwick named his training squad for the World Cup. Not long after that, the national team appeared to be in a state of disarray following another two-wins-from five return in the Six Nations. They lost at home to Fiji, which wasn't an ideal send-off for the global showpiece, amid grave concerns about their physical condition and their defence in particular.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I'm afraid it's a bit of a copy and paste job from last weekend. The reality is England should have won both matches against an All Blacks team that was there for the taking. Before the game at Eden Park, I wrote that England must learn from the first Test where they played not to lose rather than win the match in the last half hour. I was interested to hear Steve Borthwick reference exactly that in his pre-match interview on Sky. Unfortunately, exactly the same thing happened again. For the second weekend running, England were outstanding for 50 minutes and just too passive in thought and deed for the final half hour.

DAN BIGGAR: England should always be one of the leading nations in world rugby with the depth of talent they can choose from and the financial backing they have from the RFU. But since 2019, they haven't produced the performances they've been capable of, certainly in the Six Nations where they have had below-par finishes. However, 2024 has been a breakthrough year for Steve Borthwick's men. England now have a young, vibrant and attacking team that is playing an attractive brand of running rugby.

CHRIS FOY IN AUCKLAND: So much for best-laid plans. England's bid to shock the All Blacks and become record-breakers at Eden Park - as the final act of a marathon season - will rely on their ability to cope with 11th-hour disruption. After an eve-of-match visit to the fortress of Kiwi rugby, it was revealed that George Furbank had been ruled out of the second Test with a back problem. His place will be taken by Freddie Steward, the Leicester full-back who, not so long ago, was a fixture in the Red Rose XV, but who has been an unused reserve so far on this tour of Japan and New Zealand. The 23-year-old Tiger went into the Six Nations earlier this year as the familiar first-choice figure in the No 15 shirt, despite seeing Marcus Smith deployed there at times during the World Cup. Steward started as England narrowly beat Italy in Rome and Wales at Twickenham, before being usurped by Furbank, who earned a recall on the strength of his supreme form for Northampton.

Will Greenwood has urged England fly-half Marcus Smith to take a leaf out of seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady's book, following England's narrow 16-15 defeat by New Zealand last Saturday. The 2003 World Cup winner also lumped praise on the Harlequins fly-half for his performance during the match, claiming the 25-year-old is starting to look much more at home in the No 10 jersey at international level. Smith will lead the attack at fly-half during England's second Test against New Zealand at Eden Park this weekend. But his performance during last Saturday's match was thrust into the spotlight, with the Quins playmaker missing three of his five attempts at goal. 

Steve Borthwick is not known for mind games, but England's head coach is dabbling with the dark arts as he seeks to keep the heat and glare on New Zealand and off his players. England flew to Auckland yesterday to regroup and review after their one-point defeat here on Saturday, before the build-up to the series finale at Eden Park. A close encounter at Forsyth Barr Stadium saw the All Blacks seal a tense victory, which seemingly shifted some pressure away from Scott Robertson's new regime and on to the tourists. But Borthwick is determined to shift it back again.

CHRIS FOY IN DUNEDIN: Steve Borthwick offered staunch support to 'magic' Marcus Smith, after the England fly-half's missed kicks proved costly. The head coach was philosophical after his side's 16-15 defeat by the All Blacks - and bullish about their prospects in the series finale in Auckland on Saturday.  Smith was off target with three of his five shots at goal, but Borthwick was quick to back him.

There were so, so many positives to take from England's display in Dunedin. But the bottom line is that Steve Borthwick and his players missed a huge, huge opportunity to claim what would have been an historic win in New Zealand. They will be shattered to have lost by the narrowest of margins and should have plenty of regrets about doing so. International rugby is about results. That's all that matters. And New Zealand were absolutely there for the taking. So, while England can be very pleased with their performance, the bottom line is they lost the game.

CHRIS FOY IN DUNEDIN: England coaches and players often say they don't like looking back, but they are well aware that Saturday's momentous task is to reverse rugby history - and are convinced that it can be done. Why not? It has already happened, before this series against the All Blacks has even begun. The tourists are fit, ready, acclimatised, well prepared and confident, not weary, weakened, resigned and besieged.  It is a total contrast to so many previous visits to this far-off, forbidding enemy territory, where England have only ever won twice; in 1973 and 2003.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: If England were to win in New Zealand on Saturday morning, it would be a massive scalp by anyone's reckoning. As an international player, you don't get many chances to face the All Blacks in their own backyard, so my message to Steve Borthwick and his squad is to not let the opportunity pass by. This summer's two-Test series is the first time England have toured New Zealand in a decade. There is no stiffer challenge in rugby than what Borthwick's side are about to face.

Marcus Smith has the Midas touch. As if any further proof were needed, he took part in a fishing trip with several England team-mates a few days ago - and soon got the knack.  Revealing that he caught 'three or four', the Harlequins fly-half added: 'There were other lads who hauled in more than me, but that was my first proper experience of fishing. Almost every time I put the lure in, I managed to catch something. I put a few back because they weren't big enough. It is not every day you get to do that and cook massive red snapper.' Putting aside the fact that his Kiwi club mentor, Nick Evans, mocked Smith's choice of fishing attire, it was an illuminating tale about a talented individual. Whether he is on a boat or on a rugby field, he has good skills and instincts. Now, Smith also has the status to match his innate ability. He is England's senior fly-half on this tour. The No 10 shirt is seemingly his for the taking, long-term.

CHRIS FOY IN TOKYO: England will head to rugby's final frontier to confront the All Blacks armed with myriad benefits from a compelling warm-up - a hybrid asset, a new sensation and a clinical streak in attack. Japan couldn't with-stand the onslaught after a bright start and the visitors finished up with eight tries as proof that the creative advance made at the end of the Six Nations was no flash in the pan.  They also finished with Ben Earl operating in midfield, which was a highly significant development in the quest for extra dimensions.

The national team fly from the Far East to Auckland today, ready for back-to-back encounters with the All Blacks, in Dunedin on July 6 and at the Kiwis' Eden Park fortress seven days later.  England prepared for this daunting mission with an emphatic 52-17 victory over Japan here on Saturday and after Smith dazzled at fly-half, with a scorching try and two eye-catching assists, he will be retained as the primary playmaker, ahead of Fin Smith - who is destined to deputise again.

CHRIS FOY IN TOKYO: Eight different England players crossed the white try line in Tokyo as Japan struggled to get a foothold against Steve Borthwick's dominant stars on Saturday. Marcus Smith was the star of the show as he scored one try and successfully kicked four conversions during the contest as England blew Japan aside.

NIK SIMON IN TOKYO: Marcus Smith shone as England inflicted a crushing defeat on their former head coach Eddie Jones to give their summer tour lift off in Tokyo's National Stadium. Japan were overwhelmed 52-17 in their first match since Jones was placed back in charge, with England amassing eight tries until the strike rate dried up in the face of a final-quarter surge from the hosts.

DAN BIGGAR: It's really important Borthwick backs his preferred choice with a clear plan. When I was a young 10 starting out with Wales and in a similar position to the one Marcus and Fin are in now, I felt like I had to take every chance I was given or else I wouldn't play again for a while.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: England's decision to start Marcus Smith at No 10 against Japan on Saturday is the right one. But I absolutely hate the idea that he will be moved from fly-half to full back at some point in the game in Tokyo to accommodate Fin Smith alongside him as head coach Steve Borthwick hinted at on Tuesday. I've really liked Borthwick's approach and team selection this year. But I can't stand this kind of premeditated diplomatic selection. Whether it was Marcus Smith or Fin Smith who was given the nod at fly-half, the one thing I would be striving for is giving them 80 minutes in the hot seat.

CHRIS FOY IN TOKYO: It was a resounding statement of confidence in a young England team and its playmaker prodigy, as Steve Borthwick named his line-up to face Japan two days earlier than planned, with Marcus Smith at 10. The national coach will have caught his former Red Rose boss, Eddie Jones, off-guard with the unprecedented ploy to reveal his hand four days before the showdown with Japan at the Olympic Stadium. Borthwick played down any suggestion that it was an initiative-seizing move, but it felt like one, as he conveyed a sense that the tourists have clarity and conviction. Not only that, he unveiled a side with a promising blend of experience and youth, power and pace. There was going to be a Smith at fly-half, but which one? Marcus, the 25-year-old Harlequin with 32 caps or Northampton rookie Fin - who steered the Saints to Premiership title glory at the age of 22. The more established man won the vote, as Borthwick reverted to the playmaker he had lined up for the attack leader role in the Six Nations, before a pre-championship calf injury re-opened the door to George Ford.

CHRIS FOY IN TOKYO: Marcus Smith has been thrust back into the England No 10 shirt for the Test against Japan here on Saturday, as Steve Borthwick has boldly gone early with his selection for the tour opener. In an unprecedented move, the national coach has opted to announce his line-up 48 hours before the usual Thursday slot ahead of a Saturday fixture. It is a ploy which means Borthwick has seized the initiative in the Japanese capital, in the build-up to an encounter with Eddie Jones - the renowned mind-games master who is preparing for the start of his second stint in charge of the Brave Blossoms. The expectation had been that the Australian will dominate the agenda leading into the showdown with his former side, but he is still in Miyazaki in the far south and will be caught off-guard by this positive statement of intent from Borthwick. England's decision to show their hand so soon conveys a belief that they have the pedigree to launch their three-Test crusade with a victory at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Like Gareth Southgate and his England footballers, Steve Borthwick and the country's rugby stars have a hugely exciting and potentially defining few weeks ahead. The similarities between the two teams are striking. Both are packed with exciting young players blessed with brilliant, natural ability. For Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka in football, read Marcus Smith, Tommy Freeman and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in rugby. There are others in Borthwick's squad I'm excited by, particularly Fin Smith and George Martin.

ALEX BYWATER: Sitting in the bowels of Twickenham on Monday, Steve Borthwick discussed his excitement at No 10 tyros Marcus and Fin Smith leading a new-look England team this summer. As he did so, the national head coach made a pointed comment that suggested he plans to continue with the attacking approach which impressed at the conclusion of this year's Six Nations. 'The pace of training last week was higher than we've seen which tells us a bit more about the direction this team is developing in terms of athleticism and dynamism,' Borthwick said.

ALEX BYWATER: Opportunity now knocks for two of the brightest young talents in English rugby. George Ford's Achilles injury - which means he won't be involved in the summer Tests with Japan or New Zealand - robs national head coach Steve Borthwick of one of his most experienced and trusted players. But it also presents what is undoubtedly a golden chance for either Marcus or Fin Smith to lay down a significant marker and prove they are the future of the white No 10 jersey. Both are supremely talented. They represent everything you want in an English player. The pair are bold, exciting, fearless and have experience of the highest level.

Dancing along to upbeat trance music, Toulouse's fanatical support stood 10 deep to welcome Antoine Dupont and Co to this European semi-final. As they did so, they unfurled a giant banner on which was written the slogan 'Red Kingdom'. The home fans booed the arrival of Harlequins stars Joe Marler and Marcus Smith. Marler embraced the abuse, breaking into a trademark grin and holding his hand to his ear. Home heroes Dupont, Romain Ntamack and Englishman Jack Willis lapped up the adulation.