Fin Smith, starting his first Test match, overcame initial nerves to deliver a stellar performance, setting up the winning try and sealing England's 26-25 victory against France in a thrilling Six Nations encounter.
Fly-half Fin Smith acknowledged that he initially felt overwhelmed, describing his experience as 'like a rabbit in the headlights,' during his first Test start. However, he managed to compose himself and deliver a standout performance, earning the man-of-the-match award in England 's thrilling 26-25 Six Nations victory. With just minutes remaining in the match, the 22-year-old set up the winning try for Elliot Daly and then slotted the crucial conversion to secure the win for England .
Smith, who replaced his namesake Marcus Smith, who started at full-back and missed two relatively straightforward kicks, displayed nerves of steel in the face of pressure, converting two vital late kicks as England fought back to the delight of the Allianz Stadium crowd.Smith's performance was particularly impressive considering his limited international experience. Prior to this match, he had only come off the bench in his seven appearances for England. Although he made some errors in his open play kicking, Smith grew into the game and delivered key moments, including a chip-kick that was skillfully finished by Northampton teammate Tommy Freeman. Former England fly-half Paul Grayson lauded Smith's ability to overcome early mistakes, characterizing it as 'a sign of an international player.' Grayson acknowledged that Smith's kicking required refinement, but emphasized his growth throughout the match.England's win against France marks a significant step forward for the team, particularly in their ability to close out games. In previous matches, England had held leads in the final stages against Australia and New Zealand but ultimately faltered. Against Ireland in their opening Six Nations match, England led 10-5 at half-time but lost ground in the final quarter. Former England scrum-half and World Cup winner Matt Dawson believes that Smith's decisive performance in the final quarter solidifies his status as a strong contender for the number 10 shirt moving forward. Dawson also observed that senior players seemed to acknowledge Smith's leadership on the pitch, indicating a growing respect for his abilities. Steve Borthwick, England's head coach, expressed satisfaction with his team's defensive effort, particularly their scramble defense, which forced France's formidable backs into making errors and ultimately preventing them from scoring crucial tries. Captain Maro Itoje shared Borthwick's optimism, emphasizing that England's victory against one of the world's top teams demonstrates the potential of the young squad. He believes that if England can combine their fighting spirit with greater accuracy, they can achieve even greater success in the future
FIN SMITH ENGLAND FRANCE SIX NATIONS RUGBY UNION TEST MATCH VICTORY
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