England and Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith says he has had to go “back to basics” on returning to the position for his club after playing at full-back during the World Cup.
Smith was deployed at 15 for England in France rather than his usual 10 role.
He has returned to fly-half since coming back to Quins and inspired their 36-3 win against Sale on Friday.
“I found it hard the last three weeks that I have been playing,” Smith told BBC Radio London.
“The last six months prior to that I’ve been playing and training predominantly at 15, so I tried to bring it back to basics this week.
“I had a good chat with the coaches and the psychologist at the club. It was just about putting my super strengths on the park at 10 and making good decisions, and off the back of that I can influence the team and lead.
“It was massively important for me to get back on page do the basics well. I wasn’t happy with my performances the last three weeks, so to finish this Premiership block with this performance on the back of all the hard work the boys did, I’m really happy and I know all the boys are.”
Replicating Care partnership for England? ‘Fingers crossed’
With England captain Farrell announcing he is taking a break from international rugby, Smith is one of two standout options for England at fly-half during the Six Nations next year, along with Sale’s Ford.
Smith highlighted his partnership with England and Quins team-mate Danny Care – who plays alongside him at scrum-half and whose try he set up in the win against Sale – as being something that could benefit his country.
“I’m not the England coach but fingers crossed,” Smith said.
“I’ve loved playing here over the last six years. He’s [Care] looked after me on and off the field.
“He’s taught me a lot on and off the field and he’s an exceptional bloke and rugby player. Every time I take the field with him I have a massive smile on my face.”
Smith said he had spoken to Farrell since news of his break from England was announced, but is not looking “too far ahead” beyond Harlequins’ Champions Cup match with Racing 92 on 10 December.
However, Harlequins head coach Billy Millard said Smith’s performances for the club show his credentials at fly-half.
“I’ve got no idea what England are doing but the more he does it and the older he gets the more he can transition in and out,” Millard said.
“But at 10 [against Sale] he showed he can control a really pragmatic gameplan.”
