Fly-half Marcus Smith kicked just two of five attempts at goal as England were edged out 16-15 in the first Test against New Zealand; watch the second Test between New Zealand and England at Auckland's Eden Park, live on Sky Sports on Saturday July 13
Sunday 7 July 2024 08:44, UK
Nick Evans has urged Marcus Smith not to dwell on his three missed kicks at goal in England's 16-15 defeat to New Zealand in Dunedin.
Smith was handed the No 10 shirt ahead of his namesake Fin Smith after impressing in the 52-17 win over Japan in Tokyo, although an encouraging performance against the All Blacks was tempered by him landing just two of five attempts off the tee at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Former New Zealand fly-half Evans, who now serves as attack coach at Smith's club Harlequins, knows the 25-year-old will be rightly frustrated by those misses in the one-point defeat, but wants to see him immediately switch focus to the second Test at Eden Park on July 13.
"How will he deal with those missed kicks? I'm sure I'll get a text, asking me about the game," Evans told Sky Sports.
"But that's the sign of a great player, someone who wants to challenge himself and get better. He's striving for that perfect game.
"He'll be hurting with that, and it's important he is, but immediately can you park that? What's your schedule and kicking routine during the week? Make sure you look at the review and go from there."
Despite some shakiness with the boot, Smith was solid with the ball in hand, beating five defenders and providing a superb pass for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso's 47th-minute try. He also came up with 11 tackles in defence with a 100 per cent success rate.
Former England centre and Sky Sports rugby union expert Will Greenwood was effusive in his praise of how Smith marshalled the team and did not believe his kicking troubles should mar his overall display.
"That confidence maybe of being the No 1 choice at fly-half - he was outstanding against Japan and again today," Greenwood said.
"People will talk about the missed kicks - that's a separate part to his game. Like a golfer he can go away and work on his own.
"As a collective, he would have been a joy to play outside as a centre or full-back."
Evans believes Smith's ability to not let the missed conversion and two missed penalties throw him off his game is a sign of a cool temperament which is so vital in a fly-half if they are to succeed at the highest level.
He was full of praise for the way England's pack laid the foundations for him to play off as well, and sees that as something to build on going into the second Test next Saturday, which is live on Sky Sports.
"It shows his temperament," Evans said. "He missed those kicks, but it didn't affect his attacking game or in defence, where he put some big shots in.
"The ability for him to play flat probably coincided with New Zealand being a little passive off the line, but that came from the ability of the England forward to pick good seams and tips at the line.
"That created lightning-quick ball which allowed Marcus to play flat."
Watch the second Test between New Zealand and England at Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday July 13 live on Sky Sports Action from 7.30am (8.05am kick-off). Also stream contract-free with NOW.
