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According to rugby specialists, Fin Smith has shown why he deserves the first-choice spot for the national team's number ten against the All Blacks this weekend.

The Northampton Saints star delivered arguably the most impressive defensive performance we have seen from an England fly-half for quite some time.

How he fronted up by consistently making his tackles versus an aggressive Fiji side stood out remarkably.

His game management proved exceptional - he showed a perfect blend of finesse and control, while executing several crucial choices during moments didn't proceed to plan during the opening period.

Defensive Excellence Coupled with Tactical Command

His ability to calm the squad strategically and make important decisions represents an aspect he has truly nailed.

From my perspective, the young fly-half is England's number one playmaker and he should begin versus New Zealand this weekend.

I believe the manager the England coach sees it similarly as well, because Fin has demonstrated he can perform during important Test matches.

Squad Decisions and Competition

George Ford began last Saturday versus the Wallabies due to captaincy reasons, and part of that choice was to provide continuity while acknowledging his form during the visit to South America.

However, the national team's showing versus the Pacific Islanders represented a marked improvement from the performance versus the Wallabies.

The Wallabies were defeated on Italian soil on Saturday, therefore we must avoid becoming too carried away with that win, which should have been by a larger margin considering how below par Australia performed.

Fiji, by contrast, proved significantly dangerous while offering a far tougher challenge.

Long-term Potential

The young playmaker is still only 23 - projecting forward 24 months, with Ford pushing him while providing backup, I think Smith will find himself in a very strong position as a player.

Marcus Smith must also be regarded as a possibility at the right time and against suitable opponents.

He's progressing as a player while beginning to find his feet, but he also needs the freedom to show his distinctive attributes.

Bench Impact

New Zealand brought on Damian McKenzie, who registered the decisive score to beat the Scottish team, demonstrating the importance of having players who can make a real impact as substitutes.

That kind of presence might represent the deciding factor separating victory the global tournament from failure.

McKenzie watches the match develop from the bench while considering regarding ways he can make a difference upon entering.

His decision-making and mistake frequency have enhanced substantially since his early professional days.

Role Discussion

If we can get Marcus to be such type of impactful player, then having him among substitutes might prove valuable.

However, currently I don't think he represents the solution at full-back, making it a role remaining up for grabs.

New Zealand are likely to punt to challenge England's defensive line, so it has to be impenetrable.

This role requiring to become a genuine asset, in defense while regarding offensive transitions threat.

Right now, I don't think Marcus is a full-back in top-tier rugby.

I struggle to identify the advantage fielding him there.

I prefer the ball under his control frequently, but I believe this should occur among starters, particularly in the final quarter.

Innate Qualities

There are obviously numerous parallels comparing Ford and Fin Smith.

Smith possesses the ability to make right choices during tense moments - his natural reactions represent traits you can really taught.

I recall as he received possession during one phase just inside his own half and it looked that opportunity existed on if they swung it wide.

But in those milliseconds he thought the team required to turn Fiji round as we are leading points-wise, therefore he punted to pressure them back applying pressure.

This represents the type of fly-half play that wins championships and wins global tournaments.

Complete Package

He additionally possesses composure under pressure directing teammates around him, and the understanding that he mustn't constantly serve as primary receiver.

I want to see him given the opportunity demonstrating this at elite level next week, just as we have seen the veteran do, especially at domestic matches repeatedly consistently.

In Argentina, the experienced fly-half also stood up in difficult circumstances, previously you could argue occasions existed where he didn't fully done so during extremely tense games.

I think England possesses two fly-halves who can do the role, though Smith's defensive work on top of everything else, it makes him the better-rounded versatile player.

Defensive System

It also means there's no need to modify your defensive system when you have someone aggressive in the fly-half channel, instead of an individual being a little more passive.

One might make a strong case for Ford starting with Smith coming off substitution.

Numerous considerations that go on privately, but whichever way the coaches choose to proceed, this will present New Zealand difficulties.

That has not always been the situation against the All Blacks, where the focus was simply on selecting the right player.

This time, whichever fly-half selected will pressure New Zealand under real pressure.

Fin's ability to pick the right kick while delivering enabling possible territorial gains might relieve pressure away from England.