Paul Grayson weighs in on the Smith fly-half debate as ‘massive’ Six Nations awaits England who have ‘flattered to deceive for decades’
Paul Grayson previews England's 2025 Six Nations campaign and Steve Borthwick's fly-half options.
World Cup winner Paul Grayson believes England have “flattered to deceive for decades”, with Steve Borthwick under pressure to deliver success in the forthcoming Guinness Six Nations.
Legendary former Northampton fly-half Grayson, 53, was part of Sir Clive Woodward’s Red Rose squad who so gloriously triumphed in Australia to rule the world in 2003.
But they have not won it since and lost five consecutive Test matches last year before finally stopping the rot with victory over Japan in the final game of a difficult Autumn Nation Series campaign.
Grayson, who won 32 England caps during a highly distinguished career, believes the national team’s struggles can be in part attributed to the way the game is governed by the RFU.
No reason why England shouldn’t be a bloody good team
“We won the World Cup but, either side of that, England have flattered to deceive for decades,” Grayson told Planet Rugby.
“I think that’s due to a fundamental problem with the governance of the game, although that’s a very long and boring conversation to get into.
“There are a lot of extremely-talented rugby players in England who, given the opportunity, should makes us one of the top two or three teams in the world on a regular basis.
“But that’s about having organisations that are aligned and they’re moving towards that, partially, by having centrally-contracted players and having more control over their physical condition.”
As Borthwick leads England into their Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin on February 1, Grayson feels it is time for some serious progress.
“Oh without question – this Six Nations is massive for Borthwick,” he said.
“The autumn was a disappointment, with the caveat that England had a break after being together for the summer tour.
“But by the end of the autumn, you want to be showing something, so they will be disappointed with one win from four.
“There are some key players to look at and I think George Furbank has made a difference when he’s fit.
“When England play some attacking rugby – a bit like how Northampton and Harlequins play in the Premiership – they look a much better team.
“The game has evolved beyond kick and chase, maul and scrum; you need all that but you’ve got to be able to play as well.
“During England’s tour to New Zealand last summer, when they did give it a proper go, they actually looked good.
“Marcus Smith missed a couple of goal kicks that were a learning experience for him because he went back, did some work with Wilko (Jonny Wilkinson) and found a way of controlling himself when the pressure’s on.
“If he kicked those now, England might have scraped a win and the narrative’s different – but you don’t want false dawns.
“You don’t want to scrape a win and wipe away all the negative stuff.
“I just hope Borthwick gives the players to freedom to go and express themselves because there’s no reason why England shouldn’t be a bloody good team.”
England fly-half debate
Grayson is a big admirer of his latest successor in the Northampton fly-half role, Fin Smith, and believes the 22-year-old can push hard for a regular starting spot in the England side.
Grayson said: “At 9 and 10 for England, I’d have Alex Mitchell and Smith… and then it’s like ‘which Smith? Marcus or Fin?’
“Fin’s a really good player. He had a bit of a wobble with his goalkicking against Bath last weekend but he kicked the important penalty to win the game for Northampton.
“He’s a really mature player, despite being so young, and I think Fin Smith facilitates the team better than Marcus Smith.
“Marcus has obviously got ridiculous individual skills to break any game up and that’s a real 50-50 selection on those two.
“It’s the coach’s preference at the end of the day and it’s brilliant that England have got two players, plus George Ford, who are so talented and that’s exciting for me.
“It’s not a stick to beat the coach with. He’s going to make his choice and it’s paper-thin who you go with, but I would have one Smith starting and the other Smith on the bench.
“George Ford, for me, is either starting or at this point not involved because the two young Smith need to have a proper go.
“George is a class act, though, and if he’s at his best then Sale could be a handful come the end of the season.
“Then you have Mitchell at scrum-half, who Borthwick didn’t even pick in his initial 2023 World Cup squad.
“He wasn’t in the top four scrum-halves when everybody at Northampton would tell you that, if he’s not the best, he’s the second-best.
“And he’s proved that, so I’m pleased for him. If he can stay fit then he can make a difference for England and Northampton.
“He’s a stand-out player and him and Fin are a good partnership for their club and they can be for their country too.”
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