Steve Borthwick insists Smiths Marcus and Fin are key drivers in England’s evolution into a more dynamic side

Sitting in the bowels of Twickenham on Monday, Steve Borthwick discussed his excitement at No 10 tyros Marcus and Fin Smith leading a new-look England team this summer.

As he did so, the national head coach made a pointed comment that suggested he plans to continue with the attacking approach which impressed at the conclusion of this year’s Six Nations.

‘The pace of training last week was higher than we’ve seen which tells us a bit more about the direction this team is developing in terms of athleticism and dynamism,’ Borthwick said.

‘It’s slightly different to a few years ago. It’s a different type of team. It’s a new team now. And that’s going to reflect in how we play.’

Hallelujah. In a thrilling win over Ireland in March and a narrow defeat by France a week later, England finally let off the handbrake.

Fin Smith (pictured) and Marcus Smith have been key in England’s fan-friendly evolution

Marcus Smith has produced some of the most exciting performances of his young career at Harlequins this season

They played with pace, precision and panache and scored some brilliant tries. Even though they were beaten in Lyon on the Six Nations’ final weekend, there were significant and welcome signs Borthwick had evolved England’s method from the dreary, kick-dominated game plan the country’s supporters had become used to.

At the time, you hoped such performances would become the norm. Now, the challenge is for England to continue along that path.

With either one of the Smith duo set to take over the No 10 reins for the meeting with Japan in Tokyo and two July Tests with New Zealand after George Ford was ruled out with an Achilles injury, England are embracing a new era both in terms of personnel and playing style.

‘I expect Marcus and Fin to seize the opportunity by producing winning performances,’ Borthwick said.

‘They are two world class fly-halves. To have two players like that at our disposal is terrific.’ With Ford lame and Owen Farrell now ineligible for international action having moved to France, the two Smiths represent England’s playmaking future. Borthwick has laid down the challenge to them.

It will be fascinating to see which of the pair becomes first choice. Both are fine young talents, capable of leading the fresh dawn in English rugby Borthwick seems so keen on delivering.

England’s summer squad certainly has a fresh feel.

Fin Baxter, Gabriel Oghre, Joe Carpenter, Tom Roebuck, Ollie Sleightholme and Luke Northmore are the six uncapped players in a 36-man party captained once again by experienced hooker Jamie George. Wing Sleightholme’s inclusion is perhaps the most eye-catching of the new faces.

Owen Farrell ineligibility after leaving Saracens for France has opened up an opportunity for England’s emerging playmakers

George Ford’s injury means he won’t be involved in summer Tests with Japan or New Zealand

A number of new faces have joined the squad including the likes of Fin Baxter (left) and Gabriel Oghre (Right)

He ended the domestic season as the Gallagher Premiership’s top try-scorer with 15 after helping Northampton – along with Fin Smith – to their first league title in a decade.

Borthwick hinted we could see both Saints’ Fin Smith and Marcus Smith of Harlequins on the field at the same time given the latter’s ability to play full-back. He also indicated that with a short run-in to the June 22 Japan game, the cohesion provided by the six Northampton backs in his squad could be significant.

That is a considerable boost to Fin Smith’s chances of becoming a starter.

‘I started George in all five of the Six Nations games. Clearly there is an opportunity for a different starting fly-half to be playing against Japan,’ Borthwick said.

‘The opportunity is there for that fly-half to really grab this team and take it forward. Marcus is a 10 who can play 15. That gives the ability that potentially there is a situation where Fin and Marcus are on the pitch together.’ Borthwick’s praise for Fin Smith, who has had a breakthrough campaign and won his first two England caps off the bench in the Six Nations, was noticeable.

‘The first time I met him was shortly after I took this role,’ Borthwick said.

‘It was in a hotel reception just outside of Oxford. What struck me was just how hungry and how ambitious he was to compete at the very highest level. It was very impressive.’

Whichever Smith takes control of this England team, don’t expect Borthwick’s men to play total Harlem Globetrotters-style rugby. The June heat of Tokyo and the New Zealand winter will make for tricky conditions to which England will have to adapt. But the intent seems obvious.

Further senior England figures in Ellis Genge and Elliot Daly are also absent this summer. Genge has a calf injury and Daly has recently welcomed his first child.

But Borthwick does have Tom Curry back, despite the Sale flanker making just one brief substitute appearance this season after recovering from a serious hip injury. Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson had questioned whether it was right to include Curry given his lack of club minutes and past injury history.

‘Tom is a world-class player. Anybody who watched the Premiership semi-final when he came off the bench will have seen the impact he had,’ Borthwick said.

‘The respective medical and strength and conditioning teams with Sale and England have been liaising around Tom for a long period. Every report I have says Tom is in fantastic physical condition. Most important was the conversation I had with Tom. We spoke about this series.

‘This is a player who is desperate to be a part of this England team and wants to play in these games.

Meanwhile Tom Curry has returned to the fold following a campaign curtailed by injury

‘Because of that and the fact he’s world class, it was a very straightforward decision.’

England’s summer squad met on Monday and will train at Twickenham on Tuesday before flying to the Far East the following day ahead of a reunion with their former head coach Eddie Jones who is now back in charge of Japan for a second time. New Zealand will then lie in wait.

The All Blacks in particular will be a stern challenge for England’s next generation.

But whatever happens, it seems Borthwick’s men seem unlikely to die wondering. And that, frankly, is a most welcome development.