Marcus Smith’s remarkable season continues apace with the fly-half earning a surprise call-up to the British & Irish Lions squad, just a week after making his England debut. Smith scored 18 points in England’s thumping 10-try win over Canada before he was replaced 15 minutes from the end and duly informed of his call to South Africa, with Warren Gatland concerned over Finn Russell’s achilles injury. Smith was left “shaking” by the news and had no idea until he was told by members of the England management when he came off the pitch. Eddie Jones had found out on Friday night but hoped to keep it from Smith until after the match. The Lions announced his call-up early in the second half, however, making for a surreal situation in which members of the crowd were doing their best to break the news to him. He flies to South Africa on Sunday, meaning he has to pass up his ticket for Wembley, where he was due to celebrate the end of the season by watching England’s Euro 2020 final against Italy. But Smith’s Roy of the Rovers season has a few final twists to come. “I am lost for words, I can’t believe what is going on,” said Smith. “To play for England a second time is special and a day I will never forget and then I got pulled down the tunnel. I thought I was in trouble … then was given the good news. I was shaking and I don’t really know what to say. I did have a ticket for the football, I still think it is going to come home so when I land I hope for good news. It was always my dream to represent the Lions. I am massively overwhelmed. I will have to sit by myself for 10 minutes tonight and take it all in. I will try and take it all in but I don’t think I will until I get out there.” Two weekends ago he played a starring role in helping Harlequins to the most astonishing Premiership title win and only last week he was making his England debut. The way things are going you wouldn’t put it past him having a critical say against the Springboks. “We’re pleased for him, it’s a great learning opportunity for him,” said Jones. “He’ll play with some good players against some good teams, it will aid his education process and speed it up a bit.” Suffice to say, however, that South Africa – even with their lack of preparation – will be a significant step up from Canada, against whom England filled their boots, with hat-tricks for the Newcastle pair Jamie Blamire and Adam Radwan, who marked his debut in style. All things told, it was a better performance than last Saturday’s against the USA, albeit against inferior opposition. That England also kept Canada scoreless after the break – they were comfortably outscored in the second half by the USA – will no doubt please Jones, who must now decide which of all these rookies he believes has a longer-term future with England. Some will perhaps never be seen again at this level but if Jones has unearthed a handful for his 2023 World Cup squad he can be happy with his summer’s work. England had six tries by half-time, three of which came from driving mauls, with two finished by Blamire, and another a penalty try. Joe Cokanasiga added two more to continue his fine international strike-rate – the second will linger in the memory for the way he bulldozed through the Canada fly-half Peter Nelson, for whom you could not help but feel sorry. The pick of the bunch, however, came from Radwan with a turn of pace reminiscent of a try Jonny May scored against the All Blacks here back in 2014. After the break he added two more – again showing his remarkable speed – while the excellent Ellis Genge, who has been one of England’s most impressive performers this summer, powered over under the posts and Blamire wrapped up his treble on only his second appearance.
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