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According to rugby specialists, Fin Smith has demonstrated that he merits the starting position as England's number ten against the All Blacks this weekend.

The Northampton Saints star produced without doubt the best defensive display observed from an England playmaker for quite some time.

His courageous approach by consistently making his tackles versus an aggressive Fijian team stood out remarkably.

His tactical control proved exceptional - he demonstrated a perfect blend of finesse and control, while executing some strong decisions during moments didn't proceed to plan during the opening period.

Tackling Prowess Coupled with Tactical Command

His capacity to settle the squad tactically while making big calls represents an aspect he has truly mastered.

In my opinion, Fin Smith represents England's number one fly-half and he should start versus the All Blacks this weekend.

I think the manager Steve Borthwick views it similarly as well, since Smith has demonstrated he can perform during important Test matches.

Squad Decisions and Competition

The experienced fly-half started last Saturday versus the Wallabies for leadership reasons, with some aspect of that choice was to provide continuity and reward his performance during the visit of Argentina.

But England's showing against Fiji represented a marked improvement from the performance versus the Wallabies.

Australia were defeated in Italy last weekend, therefore we must not get overly excited with that win, that could have been by a larger margin given how off the pace Australia performed.

The Fijian team, on the other hand, proved significantly threatening and presented a far tougher test.

Future Prospects

Fin Smith remains just 23 - projecting forward two years, with Ford challenging him while providing backup, I think Smith will find himself in a very strong position as a player.

The Harlequins star must also be regarded as a possibility at the right time and against suitable opponents.

He's progressing in his career while beginning to find his feet, but he also needs the freedom to demonstrate his unique attributes.

Bench Impact

The All Blacks brought on Damian McKenzie, who registered the match-winning try defeating Scotland, demonstrating the significance of possessing players capable of creating genuine influence as substitutes.

Such type of presence can be the difference between winning the global tournament or not.

The All Blacks substitute watches the match develop while substituted and thinks regarding ways he can make an impact upon entering.

His decision-making and mistake frequency have enhanced significantly from his initial career.

Role Discussion

If we can get Smith to be that kind of impactful player, then having him among substitutes might prove beneficial.

Nonetheless, currently I don't think Marcus is the answer in the number fifteen position, so that is a role that is still unclaimed.

The All Blacks are likely to punt testing England's backfield, so it has remain impenetrable.

It is a position that needs to become a genuine asset, both defensively and in terms of the counter-attack threat.

Right now, I don't think Smith functions as full-back at the highest level.

I struggle to identify the benefit of playing him there.

I prefer possession in his hands frequently, though I think this should occur among starters, especially in the final 20 minutes.

Innate Qualities

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

Fin has the capacity executing right decisions under pressure - his natural reactions are not something that can be coach.

I recall as he received possession during one phase just inside his own half and it looked like it could be on if they swung it wide.

However during these split-seconds he calculated the team required reversing the opposition since England were up on the scoreboard, so he kicked to pressure them back applying the screw.

That's the sort of playmaking securing championships and wins World Cups.

All-round Ability

He also has composure under pressure directing the players nearby, while recognizing that he doesn't always need to be the first receiver.

I hope to witness him given the chance to show this at elite level next week, similar to George Ford do, particularly during domestic matches repeatedly consistently.

In Argentina, Ford also stood up in difficult circumstances, previously you could argue there have been times where he didn't fully done so in the very highest-pressure games.

I believe we have two fly-halves capable of performing the job, though Smith's defensive work combined with everything else, establishes him as the better-rounded versatile performer.

Defensive System

It also means there's no need to modify the defensive structure while fielding someone aggressive in the fly-half position, rather than an individual being a little more reserved.

You could also make a strong case for Ford starting and Fin Smith coming off the bench.

There are so many considerations that go on privately, but whichever way 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 can put New Zealand significantly.

Fin's ability selecting optimal kicks while delivering for a potential territorial gains might relieve all the stress away from England.