Fly-half Smith not tempted by full-time 15 switch

Marcus Smith says he is focused on cementing a place as England's starting fly-half, despite reprising his stand-in full-back role for his club over the weekend.

The 25-year-old started at 15 and scored two tries in Harlequins' defeat by Northampton on Friday as he covered a spate of back-three injuries.

He performed the same role from the start of three of England's matches at last year's Rugby World Cup.

"I am a fly-half, that is my position, the one I have grown up enjoying and it is the reason I fell in love with rugby," said Smith.

"It is a team sport and wherever I am needed, I'm a competitive bloke, so I will fight as hard as I can for the team.

"Sometimes that is going to be at full-back sometimes it is going to be at 10, but I am still focused on being the best fly-half I can be and kicking on in that position that I love so much, hopefully for club and country."

In the absence of the injured George Ford, Smith was preferred to Northampton rival Fin Smith as England's fly-half for the summer tour of Japan and New Zealand and says he is "desparate" to retain his starting role.

England take on New Zealand on 2 November, before Tests against Australia, South Africa and Japan.

Saracens back Alex Lozowski's last England appearance came in a faltering win over Japan in 2018, after which he was cast into international exile for six years.

Smith says the 31-year-old, who has mainly operated at outside centre over the past few seasons, has long been an inspiration to him.

"I've looked up to him ever since I was young," said Smith.

"He has all the skills - he can play fly-half, centre and full-back, he is aggressive in defence and has the ball skills at the line as well.

"It is nice having him in camp and, for me, picking his brain and trying to learn off him."