Smith masterclass as Quins crush winless Newcastle

The Prem.

Harlequins (35) 52

Cons: Smith (6), Porter, Isgro, Evans, Cleaves, and T Green (2).

Newcastle (0) 14

In a dominant 52-14 victory over bottom side Red Bulls of Newcastle, Marcus Smith propelled the Harlequins into the autumn internationals.

Smith delivered a timely reminder of his talents as Steve Borthwick’s England prepare to face Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.

Quins ran in eight of his own try-assists, scoring six of them from all angles, and the 26-year-old was superb with the ball in hand and two try-assists.

As England’s preparations for upcoming Tests against Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and Argentina take place over the next four weeks, Smith’s performance must unquestionably involve him in the conversation about the identity of the playmaker.

His critics will point out irregularities from week to week, and he’ll be the first to admit that his performance against title rivals Exeter last weekend, with a 38-0 defeat, was subpar.

However, in this case, the best of Smith was always on display, and it was the Quins star who consistently made a defense-of-Norwich play.

Before the hour mark, Cassius Cleaves flew substitute wing Cassius Cleaves before half-time, which was followed by two brilliant assists, first one for Will Porter after 23 minutes and the other for Cassius Cleaves.

After 10 minutes, Luke Northmore, who had already made the start, went over from close range before Tyrone Green, who had the visitors’ defense stretched to the breaking point, added a second.

After Smith’s daring burst, the Pumas wing volleyed the ball forward and touched down before Green’s second gave Quins a 35-0 half-time lead before the brilliantly taken fourth try from Rodrigo Isgro.

After Smith’s dummy and inside pass were decorated, Will Evans and Cleaves moved in, and Quins’ scoring was tied at 52-0 with a replacement hooker, George Turner, who completed a driving maul.

To their credit, Newcastle rallied late in the game, scoring first with tries from Murray McCallum and Ollie Leatherbarrow, both of whom scored conversions from Brett Connon.

As Leicester Tigers travel to Kingston Park next weekend in search of their first win and first point of the Prem campaign, coach Alan Dickens hopes that late momentum can be incorporated into the game.

Replacements: Delgado, Delgado, Launchbury, J Green, M Green, Benson, and Cleaves

Newcastle: Coetzee, Obatoyinbo, Spencer, Clark, Hearle, Connon, Cruz, Brocklebank, McGuigan, Palframan, Hodgson, Clarke, Lee-Warner, Gordon, Mafia

Replacements: Greenwood, De Bruin, De Bruin, Usher, Lockwood, Elliott, Leatherbarrow, and Fletcher.