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When you ask anyone in England to name one current rugby player, the first name you often hear back is 'Marcus Smith'.
Why's that? Well, the Harlequins fly-half is the most marketable rugby player England has produced in quite some time.
Silky skills, maverick-like entertainment, and with good looks to match, Smith has been hyped up as the new Jonny Wilkinson since his breakthrough at Quins in 2017.
Rugby’s rockstar
A British & Irish Lion and a Premiership winner at 22 and a Roc Nation affiliated star since 2023, starring alongside countless NBA, NFL and football household names.
A well-spoken individual who comes from a good family and is partnered with a childhood sweetheart, Smith has remained humble since his rise to the top.
The 26-year-old is the ideal face of English rugby, but his international career is yet to reach the heights expected of him.
International career has flattered to deceive
There have been moments. Picking up a loose ball to dart 50m to score a try in 2022, which clinched a winning series in Australia. No one will ever forget his last-gasp winning drop goal at Twickenham against Ireland, but what is often forgotten is that it would have been one of the worst misses in history if he had failed to put it through the upright and that England had a penalty advantage anyway.
However, due to Owen Farrell or George Ford and now Fin Smith preferred first choice, Smith hasn't had the run of games to show what he can do at the highest level. England have often preferred the pragmatic option to a Danny Cipriani or Ryan Lamb and Smith appears no different.
A stint at full-back during the World Cup and recent Six Nations left a lot to be desired, with George Furbank expected to move back into the 15 shirt after his return from injury.
Barnstorming Premiership form has fallen
In the Premiership, Smith has been Mr. consistent, worth the ticket price alone as he steps defences for fun and regularly illustrates his compelling flair.
His performance in December's Big Game at Allianz Stadium was a joy to witness against Leicester, but since then, his club form has dried up.
Harlequins have endured a so far disappointing campaign, and during their last two season-defining matches, Smith and co. have come unstuck.
A 62-0 humiliation in Dublin saw Smith outplayed by Lions rival Sam Prendergast, while last weekend his England rival Ford was head and shoulders above him in terms of game management as Sale Sharks left the Stoop with all five points and put a serious dent in the Londoners' play-off chances.
Smith’s freak conversion which hit the posts four times before missing rather summed up his day.
Lions chances are wavering
His best chance of touring Down Under are as a 10 seeing as Furbank, Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn will fight it out for the full-back places but with Finn Russell, Fin Smith, Prendergast and Ford all in better form, it might have to be Argentina for the maverick playmaker this summer.
What a fall from grace that would be!