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• Marcus Smith tipped to shine at full-back as England tackle unfancied Chile

  England are ready to step up their experiment of playing Marcus Smith at full-back in the belief he is able to perform the fundamentals of the position.

  Smith will make his first start in the number 15 jersey in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup clash with Chile having made cameo appearances off the bench in the previous four Tests, providing a lively counter-attacking threat and extra playmaking option.

  On each occasion his arrival acted as a catalyst for England with the ball in hand, particularly in Sunday’s 34-12 victory over Japan.

  While unlikely to oust first-choice full-back Freddie Steward, Smith has the opportunity to persuade head coach Steve Borthwick that he is a viable alternative.

  Borthwick appears to have found an important role for one of the most exciting talents in English rugby and is confident that his dependability under the high ball and defence match his creative skills.

  “Everyone knows Marcus’ ability with ball in hand. Everyone knows he’s got a great tactical kicking game,” Borthwick said.

  “Having that ball in space at 15 gives him even more time to find opportunities and find more space.

  “What we are seeing from him is that his ability under the high ball is very good and he’s a really tough, brave defender.

  “You don’t want your full-back to make many tackles but when they do they are usually pretty important ones. Marcus has shown himself to bring a real intensity to his defence as well.

  “Having Marcus as an option there is a great strength for us. Given the way he has come on to the field and played in the position, he deserves this opportunity.”

  Owen Farrell returns from suspension to lead the team at fly-half as one of 12 changes in personnel for the clash against the lowest ranked side in Pool D at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

  Borthwick has taken the opportunity to rest the bulk of his frontline stars such as stand-in skipper Courtney Lawes, full-back Freddie Steward, hooker Jamie George and centre Manu Tuilagi.

  Ford is not among those rotated out, however, with England’s first-choice fly-half poised to step off the bench in the second half and be paired with Farrell in a playmaking axis for the first time since 2021.

  “George Ford has been in superb form,” said Borthwick, who confirmed that Farrell remains the squad’s captain despite Lawes performing well in the role against Argentina and Japan.

  “Will we see George Ford and Owen Farrell at 10 and 12? I think that could happen at some point in the game,” Borthwick said.

  “They’ve been a great partnership in the past. They have been working together in training.

  “They have known each other for a very, very long time and you have seen the way they can work together. There’s a great synergy between them.”

  Henry Arundell makes his World Cup debut on the right wing with clear instructions from Borthwick to go hunting for the ball.

  “Henry has got a special talent and ability to beat people. Henry is a very instinctive player so I talk about backing his instincts,” Borthwick said.

  “If he makes a decision to go, then go. Beat people. It’s what he does so very, very well. He has added other dimensions to his game.

  “His defence has really, really stepped forward, his high ball has really improved. He has been working exceptionally hard on it.

  “His point of difference is his ability to beat people, so I encourage him to go and beat people.”

• Marcus Smith backed to shine at full-back as England tackle unfancied Chile

  England are ready to step up their experiment of playing Marcus Smith at full-back in the belief he is able to perform the fundamentals of the position.

  Smith will make his first start in the number 15 jersey in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup clash with Chile having made cameo appearances off the bench in the previous four Tests, providing a lively counter-attacking threat and extra playmaking option.

  On each occasion his arrival acted as a catalyst for England with the ball in hand, particularly in Sunday’s 34-12 victory over Japan.

  While unlikely to oust first-choice full-back Freddie Steward, Smith has the opportunity to persuade head coach Steve Borthwick that he is a viable alternative.

  Borthwick appears to have found an important role for one of the most exciting talents in English rugby and is confident that his dependability under the high ball and defence match his creative skills.

  “Everyone knows Marcus’ ability with ball in hand. Everyone knows he’s got a great tactical kicking game,” Borthwick said.

  “Having that ball in space at 15 gives him even more time to find opportunities and find more space.

  “What we are seeing from him is that his ability under the high ball is very good and he’s a really tough, brave defender.

  “You don’t want your full-back to make many tackles but when they do they are usually pretty important ones. Marcus has shown himself to bring a real intensity to his defence as well.

  “Having Marcus as an option there is a great strength for us. Given the way he has come on to the field and played in the position, he deserves this opportunity.”

  Owen Farrell returns from suspension to lead the team at fly-half as one of 12 changes in personnel for the clash against the lowest ranked side in Pool D at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

  Borthwick has taken the opportunity to rest the bulk of his frontline stars such as stand-in skipper Courtney Lawes, full-back Freddie Steward, hooker Jamie George and centre Manu Tuilagi.

  Ford is not among those rotated out, however, with England’s first-choice fly-half poised to step off the bench in the second half and be paired with Farrell in a playmaking axis for the first time since 2021.

  “George Ford has been in superb form,” said Borthwick, who confirmed that Farrell remains the squad’s captain despite Lawes performing well in the role against Argentina and Japan.

  “Will we see George Ford and Owen Farrell at 10 and 12? I think that could happen at some point in the game,” Borthwick said.

  “They’ve been a great partnership in the past. They have been working together in training.

  “They have known each other for a very, very long time and you have seen the way they can work together. There’s a great synergy between them.”

  Henry Arundell makes his World Cup debut on the right wing with clear instructions from Borthwick to go hunting for the ball.

  “Henry has got a special talent and ability to beat people. Henry is a very instinctive player so I talk about backing his instincts,” Borthwick said.

  “If he makes a decision to go, then go. Beat people. It’s what he does so very, very well. He has added other dimensions to his game.

  “His defence has really, really stepped forward, his high ball has really improved. He has been working exceptionally hard on it.

  “His point of difference is his ability to beat people, so I encourage him to go and beat people.”

• Owen Farrell recalls emotional roller-coaster ride of exile from England team

  Owen Farrell is eager to make his mark on the Rugby World Cup after riding an emotional roller coaster watching England’s opening two matches.

  Farrell has been reinstated as captain and fly-half for Saturday’s clash with Chile having served a four-game ban for the dangerous tackle made against Wales almost six weeks ago.

  England’s talisman watched from the stands as Argentina were routed in defiance of Tom Curry’s early red card and eight days later a slow start against Japan made for a high-octane final quarter.

  Having put himself through the wringer as spectator, Farrell will find relief in finally being thrust into the action.

  “I don’t detach myself from it – I’m knackered by the end to be honest! Especially after that first one against Argentina,” Farrell said.

  “I wouldn’t describe myself as a good watcher. I feel involved, I feel like I’m out there at times.

  “I feel every emotion that goes with it, sometimes even more than I would if I was playing. I wouldn’t describe myself as the best in the stands!

  “I wouldn’t say I am unbelievably loud, it’s just more the emotion of the game. I feel like I go through it all time.

  “I’m massively excited to be back. I’ve been looking forward to getting to the World Cup and it’s been tough-ish not playing.

  “It’s been brilliant to see how well the lads have been doing on the pitch and I’m desperate to be a part of it.”

  George Ford has excelled at fly-half in Farrell’s absence by winning back-to-back man of the match awards, including a masterclass in game management against Argentina.

  Ford drops to the bench for Saturday’s Pool D showdown but is expected to appear in the second half, reforming the playmaking axis with Farrell last seen two and a half years ago.

  “George has obviously been playing fantastic. It’s exactly what you want as an England player,” Farrell said.

  “I can’t speak highly enough of the way he’s been performing – and the lads as a group. It can only be good for the team with players playing well all across the park.”

  With Marcus Smith starting at full-back, England could have three fly-halves on the field in the second half.

  “To have two very good players around you is a very big plus for me,” Farrell said.

  “The way we go about working together is pretty open and we’re constantly talking about the game and constantly trying to get on the same page about the way that we see the team.

  “I’d hope that over the however many weeks that we’ve been together that we’ve developed a better relationship over the course of that.

  “Marcus has come on and impacted the game at full-back. He wants the ball, he wants to make a difference, he wants to get the team on the front foot and I see it being no different on Saturday.”