Marcus Smith can take England to next level, Haka should stay and being a Gareth Southgate fan - Danny Care column

England are set to welcome New Zealand to the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham this Saturday in the latest episode of a big-ticket clash that always delivers. Can Marcus Smith ignite Steve Borthwick's side in front of a home sell-out? Or will the All Blacks turn on the style? Danny Care has his say to TNT Sports. Watch every moment of the Autumn Nations Series live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Ex-England scrum-half Danny Care will be providing insight and analysis for TNT Sports throughout the 2024 Autumn Nations Series. Here is his first column ahead of the monumental meeting between England and New Zealand at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday - live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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'Go make some memories'

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There’s just something in the air when New Zealand are in town, there’s just something a little bit different about the whole place and the whole vibe. I think it’s the fact that we don’t get to see it an awful lot.

They bring an element of swagger with them, which I think the fans love. When the Haka gets going, fans love to see that. I think with New Zealand, because they have the ability to be unbelievable, everyone’s a little bit on edge because you’re hoping that it’s not one of those days when they are. But you want them to be good, you want this game to be a really tough fixture and one that the lads will remember forever.

I think that’s what England coach Steve Borthwick will be saying: ‘go make some memories’. Not many people have beaten New Zealand – ever – and not many people have beaten them at home in front of their home fans, in front of 80,000 people.

I still remember the 2012 game like it was yesterday (England won 38-21), not that it means more, but it kind of does. I know for a fact the boys are itching to get out there and Saturday’s going to be rocking.

Smith can take England to 'next level'

I’m a bit biased because I’ve known him for a long time, but for me, Marcus Smith is the fly-half that can take England to the next level. He has the ability to challenge the very, very best defences in the world, both himself and the way he drives the team around the park.

With him and Fin Smith you’ve got a great battle of the young lads, and then you’ve got George Ford who’s just such a brilliant person to have in and around that squad to lean on for that experience.

Steve’s obviously shown an awful lot of faith in George, he’s just come back from injury, and he’s come straight in and gone on the bench. I think that says everything you need to know about Steve and George’s relationship, that Steve wants someone like George in and around that matchday squad.

George is almost like another coach out there for the lads, which is brilliant. He sees things that players don’t, that coaches might, but he’s on the pitch and he can help you out all the time.

Fin can probably count himself a little bit unlucky to be out of the 23 but in Marcus, George and Fin you’ve got great competition for the next few years, and I’m delighted for Marcus that he gets another opportunity to show what he can do in the 10 shirt.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Haka or no Haka?

England prop Joe Marler caused a stir this week with a tweet suggesting the Haka "needs binning" - Danny offers his views...

My first-ever cap for England was away in New Zealand, I faced a Haka as a 21-year-old in their own backyard. I think it’s one of those amazing, historic things.

Normally if anyone knows anything about rugby and you mention New Zealand, they’ll go ‘the Haka’. It’s almost like it comes with it, it’s part of the show, it’s part of the prestige sort of thing.

I thoroughly believe that we’re in the entertainment business and I think people like to see it. I can respect that they do it for the reasons that they do it. You take it as a challenge, you accept the challenge and you go out and you try and beat them.

I enjoy watching it, I’ve enjoyed facing it in my time, and I don’t have a problem with it.

How to get over the line in big games

The key word for this Autumn for England is opportunity. It’s a massive opportunity to test yourselves against some of the very best in the world.

Steve’s big thing over the last couple of years has been that we need to start beating these top four teams. And we get two opportunities in the first two weeks to play against two of the top four, and try and break into that top four.

I’m really excited by this England squad. I think it’s jam-packed full of really incredible talent, some great experience but also some new faces which I can’t wait to see in an England shirt.

I think they’ve just got to find that ruthless, clinical edge, they’ve got to start winning these games rather than being just about in it.

The next step for this team is to see results against the very best, and they will then be classed as a world-class side.

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I loved Southgate but Tuchel can be 'incredible'

After the England's men's football team appointed Thomas Tuchel as manager, Danny has his say on English coaches in rugby...

I definitely don’t think it has to be an English man or woman to manage the head team [of a sport]. I think Steve’s doing an unbelievable job, and I’d say the best person for the job is the person that should be doing it.

I was a massive Gareth Southgate fan. I loved what he did for that England team, but I also think that Thomas Tuchel is going to be incredible for that England team. I certainly have no qualms with a non-Englishman coaching England; if he’s the best person for the job, then I want the best person for the job.

There’s a plethora of young English coaches that are in the Premiership that are great coaches and that I’m sure maybe would harbour ambitions to work for the national team at some point. At the moment, I think we’ve definitely got the right guy in Steve. I think what he’s done for that team in the last couple of years has been remarkable, and he’s got some good people around him as well. The way I stand on it is that it should be the best person for the job, it doesn’t matter where they’re from.

Rassie Erasmus was talking this week about how much it means to him to be the South Africa coach, and you can understand that. He understands what it means to be South African, he understands what they’ve gone through in that country to get to the place where they’re at today, and I 100% get that. But if it’s the best person for the job, then give it to them.

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Watch every moment of the Autumn Nations series live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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