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Marcus Smith joins 5-strong list of high-profile Six Nations casualties

By PA
(Photo by Alex Davidson/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Marcus Smith became the latest big-name absentee from the second round of Guinness Six Nations matches as England named their XV to face Italy.

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The Harlequins fly-half and 2021 British and Irish Lions tourist missed out as head coach Steve Borthwick responded to an opening loss against Scotland.

It follows an eye-catching Wales selection and here, the PA news agency looks at the high-profile casualties.

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Coach Andy Farrell reacts to his feelings with home advantage against France

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      Coach Andy Farrell reacts to his feelings with home advantage against France

      Alun Wyn Jones, Wales
      Wales caps: 156
      Points: 45
      Lions tours: 2009, 2013, 2017, 2021 (captain)

      Jones’ 168 Test caps, made up by 12 for the Lions, are a world record – beating Richie McCaw’s 148 for New Zealand – and he has been a near-constant on the teamsheet since his debut in 2006. He captained Wales to their 2019 grand slam and was named player of the tournament and has been named in every Lions squad since 2009, setting a professional-era record of 12 consecutive Tests for the combined British and Irish team and captaining them in South Africa in 2021, when he recovered from a dislocated shoulder to return to the tour.

      Marcus Smith, England
      England caps: 13
      Points: 139
      Lions tours: 2021

      Not as experienced as the other names on this list but Smith’s prodigious playmaking talent saw him anointed early in his career as England’s future – training with the senior squad as early as 2017, aged 18 – which will make his omission a shock to many. His partnership with captain Owen Farrell, who will move from inside centre to replace him in the number 10 jersey, has come under scrutiny amid England’s indifferent run of form. Smith was called up as injury cover on the most recent Lions tour and played one non-Test match against South African club side the Stormers.

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      Taulupe Faletau, Wales
      Wales caps: 96
      Points: 50
      Lions tours: 2013, 2017, 2021

      The Cardiff number eight was another casualty of Warren Gatland’s scrum overhaul following defeat to Ireland, though unlike Jones and Justin Tipuric he was at least given a place on the bench. The move comes as he nears a century of Wales caps, with his five Tests for the Lions already taking him to three figures overall. The most recent two of his 10 Wales tries came in November’s internationals against Argentina and Australia.

      Justin Tipuric, Wales
      Wales caps: 90
      Points: 55
      Lions tours: 2013, 2017, 2021

      The overlooked trio have a combined 342 caps for Wales and 18 for the Lions, with Tipuric’s lone Test appearance for the latter coming against Australia on his debut tour in 2013. Another scorer in the autumn, crossing against New Zealand for his 11th international try – the first three of which came in successive Tests against Ireland, home and away, and Uruguay in 2015.

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      Ben Youngs, England
      England caps: 122
      Points: 100
      Lions tours: 2013

      France named an unchanged XV while Ireland and Scotland made just one injury-influenced change apiece but Youngs’ absence from England’s 29-man squad altogether was another notable call and puts his World Cup involvement later this year in doubt. His country’s most-capped player, having passed former prop Jason Leonard’s 114 appearances during last year’s tournament, he has scored 20 international tries. His two Lions caps came on the 2013 tour of Australia, while he pulled out of the 2017 squad for family reasons.

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      fl 1 hour ago
      Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

      “A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

      Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


      “The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

      I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


      “Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

      I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


      “The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

      I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

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