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

The Northampton Saints star produced arguably the most impressive defensive performance we have seen by an English fly-half in several years.

His courageous approach by consistently making defensive hits versus a physical Fiji side was impressive.

His tactical control proved exceptional - he showed a perfect blend of finesse and control, and made some strong decisions when things were not going as expected during the opening period.

Defensive Excellence Coupled with Tactical Leadership

His ability to calm the team tactically while making big calls is something he has truly nailed.

From my perspective, Fin Smith represents England's number one playmaker and he should begin against the All Blacks next week.

I believe the manager Steve Borthwick views it that way too, because Fin has demonstrated his capability in big Test matches.

Team Selection Amid Rivalry

The experienced fly-half began the previous weekend versus the Wallabies due to captaincy reasons, with some aspect of that choice aimed at ensuring continuity while acknowledging his form during the visit to South America.

However, the national team's performance against Fiji was a significant improvement compared to the display versus the Wallabies.

The Wallabies were defeated in Italy on Saturday, therefore we must avoid becoming overly excited with that win, which should have been by a larger margin considering how below par Australia were.

Fiji, by contrast, were much more dangerous and presented a far tougher test.

Long-term Potential

Fin Smith is still only twenty-three - projecting forward 24 months, alongside Ford challenging him but also offering support, I think Fin will be in a very strong position in his career.

The Harlequins star must also be regarded as an option when appropriate and versus suitable opponents.

He's progressing in his career and is starting to find his feet, though he requires liberty to show his unique qualities.

Substitute Influence

The All Blacks brought on Damian McKenzie, who registered the match-winning try defeating Scotland, demonstrating the significance of having individuals who can make a real impact from the bench.

Such type of presence can be the difference separating victory a World Cup from failure.

McKenzie watches the game unfold from the bench while considering about how to create an impact when he comes on.

His choices and mistake frequency have enhanced significantly since his early professional days.

Role Discussion

Should we develop Smith as such type of impactful player, then having him in the backfield could be valuable.

However, currently I believe Marcus represents the solution at full-back, making it a position remaining up for grabs.

New Zealand are likely to punt to challenge the English backfield, therefore it must to be impenetrable.

This role that needs transforming into a genuine asset, both defensively and in terms of the counter-attack danger.

Currently, I don't think Marcus is a full-back at the highest level.

I find it difficult to see the advantage of playing him there.

I want the ball in his hands as much as possible, though I think that should be among starters, especially in the final 20 minutes.

Natural Instincts

Clearly there exist a lot of similarities between Ford with Smith.

Fin has the ability to make the correct decisions during tense moments - his natural reactions are not something you can really taught.

I remember as he received the ball during one phase just inside his territory appearing like it could be on if they swung it wide.

But in those milliseconds he thought they needed to turn the opposition since England were up on the scoreboard, so he kicked to pressure the opponents and turn pressure.

This represents the type of fly-half play that wins championships and wins World Cups.

All-round Ability

He also has that calmness under pressure to organise teammates nearby, and the understanding that he mustn't always need to be the first receiver.

I want to see him receiving the chance demonstrating this at elite level next week, similar to George Ford accomplish, especially at club level repeatedly and week out.

In Argentina, the experienced fly-half also stood up in difficult situations, where historically you could argue there have been times where he didn't fully delivered in the very highest-pressure matches.

I believe we have playmaking options who can do the job, but with Fin's defensive work on top of additional qualities, it makes him the more complete versatile player.

Tactical Setup

It also means there's no need to adjust the defensive structure when you have an assertive player in the fly-half position, rather than someone who is a little more reserved.

One might make a strong case favoring Ford beginning with Smith coming off the bench.

There are so many considerations that go on behind closed doors, however the coaches choose to proceed, this will present New Zealand difficulties.

This hasn't consistently represented the situation against the All Blacks, where the focus was simply on selecting the optimal individual.

This time, either playmaker they choose will pressure the All Blacks significantly.

Fin's ability selecting the right kick and execute for a potential territorial gains might relieve all the stress off the national team.