Now the Marcus express has been shunted into a siding – not for the first time, as we shall see – and Smith has been dropped to the England bench for Sunday’s Six Nations ho ...

Last year, he made the No 10 shirt his own, through the summer tour of Japan and New Zealand ... he is a back-up to the new Smith – Fin. His head will be spinning. In a game against Italy which could ...

From Mr Smith, to Mr and Mr Smith, and now back to Mr Smith. Yes, England find themselves at something of a crossroads that could have implications beyond the next World Cup.