Smith set for England full-back shirt against Chile
![Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell are set to play in the same starting team as England take on Chile this weekend at the Rugby World Cup knowing a win all but secures their place in the last eight of the tournament.](https://www.cityam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/GettyImages-1688463595.jpg)
Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell are set to play in the same starting team as England take on Chile this weekend at the Rugby World Cup knowing a win all but secures their place in the last eight of the tournament.
Squad captain Farrell returns from a ban he picked up in August for a high tackle while third fly-half George Ford has been favoured to Smith at No10 for England’s two opening wins – against Argentina and Japan.
According to reports, Smith could see himself starting at full-back with Farrell at fly-half.
Winger Henry Arundell and back-row Jack Willis could find themselves in the starting team too.
A win for England on Saturday against Pool D’s bottom ranked side Chile – who are in their first Rugby World Cup – would see Steve Borthwick’s side climb from their current tally of nine points to 13 or 14 depending on whether they are able to claim a try scoring bonus point – achieved by crossing the try line four times in a match.
And ahead of England’s match in Lille on Saturday afternoon, the worst position they could hold in Pool D would be second – if Samoa beat Argentina with a bonus point on Friday afternoon.
A four-try win for England would see them lead Pool D by at least four points ahead of their final game against Samoa on 7 October.
England ended a spell of four hours of matchplay without a try at a World Cup last weekend when Lewis Ludlam crossed for the opening of four tries against Japan.
The side had beaten Argentina – widely seen by many as their toughest pool opponent – through just penalties and drop goals.
Borthwick’s men are likely to face one of Wales, Australia or Fiji in the last eight should they reach the quarter-finals.