Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'They were stealing my money': Smith's tongue-in-cheek Wales story

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

New England talisman Marcus Smith has tongue-in-cheek quipped that Dan Biggar and his fellow Wales players “were stealing his money” when playing cards with him on the Lions tour in South Africa last year. Smith was a mid-tour call-up by Warren Gatland and ahead of the upcoming England Guinness Six Nations clash with the Welsh at Twickenham on February 27, the 23-year-old spoke about the excellent rapport he built on tour with Biggar, an out-half who is ten years older.   

ADVERTISEMENT

“He is a brilliant guy, Dan Biggar,” said Smith on Wednesday after England assembled in London for their fallow week training camp ahead of the eagerly awaited round three showdown with Wales. “I remember he invited me to my first game of cards in South Africa which was nice. He didn’t have to do that. All the Welsh boys invited me to that. 

“He was very accommodating, very welcoming, brought me up to speed very quickly with the playbook and the way they wanted to play out there. He always greeted me with a smile on his face and we worked really closely together on our kicking and I learned a lot about the game through watching with him and Finn (Russell) and Owen (Farrell) as well.”

Video Spacer

ASX Sports Fantasy Rugby | A new generation of fantasy rugby is here with apps for iOS and Android!

Video Spacer

ASX Sports Fantasy Rugby | A new generation of fantasy rugby is here with apps for iOS and Android!

Asked what the outcome of that ice-breaking card game was, a smiling Smith quipped: “I lost, I think I lost a tenner. They were stealing my money.” 

Both England and Wales got their seasons back on track last weekend with respective round two victories in Rome and Cardiff following first weekend setbacks for each team in Edinburgh and Dublin. The game on Saturday week in London will be Smith’s first experience as a player facing the Welsh at Test level but he knows all about the rivalry between the two countries.  

Related

“I have been very grateful, I have been brought up in a rugby-mad family,” he explained. “My dad is an extremely proud Englishman and he always told me how big this game was. So yeah, for me if I get the opportunity to play in that game I know how much it will mean to not only my dad but every other proud English fan in the country. It is our next game so it is our most important game because it is hopefully going to put us in a better position on the Six Nations table.”

England are currently second, three points leaders France with three rounds of matches to play in a tournament that will conclude with Eddie Jones’ team taking on the French in Paris on the night of March 19. 

ADVERTISEMENT

“It has been a brilliant tournament, it is wide open at the minute,” reckoned Smith. “Obviously, France are unbeaten still and they have got a few tough games coming up. It is all to play for, it’s wide open and we are massively excited about the next few weeks. Hopefully, we can continue to win and put ourselves in the best position to win it.”

Just seven caps into his new career as a Test-playing out-half, Smith was very much on the outside looking in this time last year as he was still months away from the July debut he was to make for England at Twickenham against the USA. Can he remember what he was like during the 2021 Six Nations and how has his relationship with England boss Jones progressed in recent weeks with Smith now the No10 playing in his first championship campaign?

“I was watching it as an avid England fan, desperate to see them do well. I can’t really remember what I was thinking of, I was probably head stuck into playing well for Quins and trying to push Quins up the table and trying to add value in any way I could on and off the field. I can’t really remember any details but I was definitely a massive supporter of England back then.

“He [Jones] has been brilliant with me, he has pushed me, given me good feedback both from training down in Brighton to our first game in Scotland to the Italy week. Our dialogue has been very open even since the autumn and I am learning a lot from Eddie. He is pushing me to get me to where I want to get to in my career and where he wants to get this team.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Can Smith offer an insight into those coach/player chats? “No, it’s between me and him but the main gist of it is, ‘Just keep working hard and keep enjoying my rugby’.” 

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

T
TI 1 hour ago
All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

Rieko took literally years to turn from a defensive liability at 13 into a guy, who’s defensively sound as it befits the position. And it all came at the cost of him being much less of an offensive threat, than what he used to be. Proctor is a natural 13, he handles, passes, and kicks way better than Rieko ever will, he just isn’t as fast.


It’s unfair to judge Tupaea on the handful of games he’s had in 2022 before he got nearly crippled by a Wallaby lock. What could Tupaea/Proctor pairing be, if they got the same amount of chances as Jordie/Rieko?


Because no matter how you spin it, playing a player outside of his natural position is a poor asset management. No matter how talented he is, he still competes against players who had years and years of practice at the position. And if said guy is so talented that he actually CAN compete against specialists, imagine how much better still he could have been, if he had all those years to iron the toothing issues at the position. It just drives me mad.


Two things I hate in rugby union beyond description: aping after league, and playing players outside of their natural position. Especially considering, that they all admit they hate it, when they’re allowed to speak freely. Owen Farrell spent 80% of his international career at 12, saying every time when asked, that he is a 10 and prefers to play at 10. Those players are literally held at a gunpoint: play out of position, or no national jersey for you.

46 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 2 hours ago
What has happened to Aphelele Fassi?

Willie will always be the most missed player for me once he retires. He wasn't interested in scoring tries. The ultimate team player. Has the most assists in tries in the Bok team, and his kicks always spot on, at least 95% of the time. He reads the game like no other player can. He wasn't flashy, and people didn't notice him because of that. Great rugby head and knowledge. He should be catapulted into an assistant coach in the rugby system. He should really consider coaching.


Damian Willemse is an excellent fullback and he is the number 1 fullback. He can play the entire backline positions, except maybe 9, but I'm sure he would be able too if he wanted. No one is taking that away from him, only stand in while he is injured. He is world class and you don't swap that out. He also got wicked dancing feet, great eye for openings, and reads a game like few can, like Willie Le Roux. Also very strong on his feet, with absolute great hands and his kicking game is just as good.


As for Aphelele Fassi. What a great find and he has exceptional talent that Rassie will mould into a world class player. Yet.... He is nowhere even close to Damien Willemse. He has a long way to go to get there, but he is surrounded by great team mates from who he will gain lots of advice and support. He can play wing and fullback and Rassie may just try him out as a flyhalf or centre too. He has the abilities to expand his game. He is for sure a future star, but not yet at the stage to take away Damien Willemse's spot. However, DW start and AF on the bench, that is an awesome replacement. Between the 2 they cover all positions in the backline once AF gets that training. The Boks could go 6/2 permanently if they wanted. 6 forwards, a scrumhalf and AF. I may be wrong, but Rassie will spread AF around.

2 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Gatland defiant but Welsh rugby no nearer escape route with Springboks looming Gatland defiant but Welsh rugby no nearer escape route with Springboks looming
Search