Fin Smith sets England autumn ultimatum to hit form

England fly-half Fin Smith has warned that a disappointing autumn could force serious questions about the national team's future direction. The 24-year-old reflected on the team's performance during the challenging Six Nations tournament and an underwhelming summer campaign, which included a 45-21 loss to world champions South Africa, a 73-8 defeat of Fiji, and a narrow 31-24 victory over Argentina.

Smith remains cautious, stating, "It is so hard to say," when asked about the team's progress. He emphasized that they will only know the true state of affairs once the autumn fixtures commence, particularly if they struggle after building momentum in the summer. England will face Australia, Japan, and New Zealand in consecutive weekends in November, followed by a play-off against a southern hemisphere opponent in the Nations Championship competition's final match.

Smith expressed confidence in England's ability to compete against top-tier teams, citing their victory over New Zealand in November 2024 as evidence. Despite England's recent struggles, Smith is adapting to Steve Borthwick's tactics and embracing his role in the team. Northampton's head coach Phil Dowson, who has aspirations to coach internationally, praised Smith's contributions to the club's success, including providing six players for England's Nations Championship squad.

Dowson acknowledged the possibility of Smith one day coaching England, though there are no current plans for such an opportunity.