England Legend Will Greenwood Urges Marcus Smith to Emulate Tom Brady’s Approach
Following England’s narrow 16-15 defeat to New Zealand last Saturday, former World Cup winner Will Greenwood has encouraged 25-year-old fly-half Marcus Smith to take inspiration from seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.
Greenwood, speaking on behalf of NOW, praised Smith’s performance, claiming the Harlequins playmaker is looking increasingly comfortable in the England No. 10 jersey at the international level. The 2003 World Cup winner believes Smith should take a leaf out of Brady’s book by playing closer to the gainline, similar to how the NFL great operates in the pocket.
“He [Smith] is much more comfortable in his shirt now, with the No 10 jersey – sort of – being his at the moment. When he first started, he was a little deeper, playing a bit more like he does at Quins, which you can do at club level. Now, he’s not quite as flat as Finn Russell, he’s not quite as flat as Damian McKenzie, but he’s getting flatter.”
Despite missing three of his five goal attempts, Smith showcased his unique ball-handling abilities, including a pinpoint pass to Immanuel Feyi-Waboso for England’s second try. Greenwood believes the young fly-half’s next challenge is to emulate Brady’s ability to “stay in amongst the bodies for longer” before dropping deep, which has been a key factor in the NFL legend’s success.
Ahead of the second Test against New Zealand at Eden Park this weekend, Fin Baxter is the only change to the England lineup, replacing the injured Joe Marler in the front row. While acknowledging that England are “not the finished article,” Greenwood is excited by the team’s brand of rugby under Steve Borthwick, stating they are “getting most of [the pillars] right more than they are getting wrong.”
Fans can stream the second New Zealand vs. England Test live on Sky Sports with a NOW Sports Day or Month Membership, offering hassle-free access to international rugby union action.
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