England v Japan: Marcus Smith and Fin Smith begin battle for fly-half spot

Marcus Smith starts on Saturday against Japan in Tokyo, with a strong performance needed to put him in pole position to retain the 10 shirt for two mega Tests in New Zealand.

Injury prevented Smith, who started the entire 2022 Six Nations ahead of Ford, challenging the Sale Sharks fly-half for his starting jersey for the opening three rounds of this year’s championship.

Things are yet to fully click for him at number 10 for England and Saturday will be his first start at fly-half since last summer’s World Cup warm-up defeat by Wales.

Smith, who has been capped 32 times, moved to full-back during last autumn’s World Cup, drawing similarities to Ford and Farrell’s successful 10-12 combo that got England’s very best players on the pitch.

In this year’s Six Nations, Smith showed his brilliance off the bench, with a match-winning drop-goal against Ireland and a sharply finished second-half try from full-back in defeat by France.

Northampton rival Fin Smith is three years younger – he only turned 22 in May – and this month helped steer Saints to a first Premiership title in a decade at his tender years.

He made his England debut in this year’s Six Nations but only played 33 minutes across the opening three rounds before losing his bench spot to his namesake.

Cool, calm and composed, the younger Smith has shown signs he has the correct temperament for the big stage and is named on the bench in Tokyo.

Care, who played with both players during this year’s Six Nations, believes they could “work really well together” on the pitch “at the same time” – a trick used before to get two talented playmakers on the field.

“It is a big few weeks for him [Marcus Smith] to go – ‘Right, this is how I want to play’,” Care added. “Marcus will be desperate to say ‘This is how I run the team’.

“But I think they will both play massive roles on this tour.”