2 days ago
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Autumn Nations Series: England v Japan
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham Date: Sunday, 24 November Kick-off: 16:10 GMT
Coverage: Listen to unrecorded commentary connected BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, travel unrecorded substance commentary connected the BBC Sport website and app
Fly-half Marcus Smith is improving the mode helium dovetails with the remainder of England's attack, says adjunct manager Andrew Strawbridge.
Smith, 25, has been 1 of England's standout performers successful 3 Autumn Nations Series defeats against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
However, contempt Smith's creativity successful onslaught and accuracy from the kicking tee, England are inactive connected their worst tally since 2018 aft 5 consecutive defeats.
"I person recovered Marcus truly unfastened to discussions astir the game," Strawbridge told BBC Sport.
"He is getting amended and amended astatine having a deeper knowing of the crippled and his relation successful it."
Since his Premiership debut for Harlequins arsenic an 18-year-old, regular eye-catching performances near galore calling for Smith to beryllium England's semipermanent enactment astatine fly-half.
Now capped 38 times, helium has started six Tests successful a enactment for the archetypal clip since 2022, but 5 person resulted successful defeats - 4 of which came down to the last play.
England's opening effort connected Saturday against South Africa came erstwhile Smith opted against a drop-goal, darted to the blindside and acceptable up Ollie Sleightholme for a tally into the corner.
Strawbridge says that England's onslaught allows for specified improvisation, and is besides assured Smith's crippled absorption is improving.
"In immoderate environments I person been successful we enactment each the unit connected the 10 similar a backmost successful American Football - they marque each the decisions, the calls and the plays. That isn't the lawsuit here," helium added.
"We are spreading the decision-making and we are trying to sharpen that edge. Marcus' decisions are wrong that structure."
The past clip England mislaid 5 consecutive games was nether Eddie Jones, who returns to his erstwhile employers connected Sunday arsenic Japan boss.
Having defeated Jones' broadside - successful their astir caller triumph by 35 points successful June - England spell successful arsenic dense favourites to extremity their miserable run.
"We person had maturation this campaign," Strawbridge added.
"I get radical from the extracurricular uncovering that hard to believe, but this is simply a further opptortunity for america consolidate immoderate of our practices successful seeing things and executing things.
"This is simply a step, not a launching pad oregon a redeeming grace, successful the improvement of a good, bully Test team."
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