Smith makes claim, Chessum and Russell make friends - Prem talking points

It is 21 months since Marcus Smith last started a match at fly-half for England.In the wake of an opening-round defeat by Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations, the 27-year-old fell behind Fin Smith and George Ford in race for number 10 and never recovered.Head coach Steve Borthwick has instead preferred him as a full-back or a versatile replacement option.After Smith stepped into scrum-half against Fiji in the summer, there was even talk of him covering nine as part of his portfolio.But a start at 10 – his preferred role and one he played for eight successive Tests before being shunted elsewhere – has not even looked likely.It does now.With first-choice Fin Smith a major doubt after sustaining a calf injury, Marcus Smith is the form fly-half pick to start against Australia on Sunday.Smith, who missed the opening two Prem games, has been key to Harlequins' recent revival.His clever support line helped set up a try for Cadan Murley inside two minutes of Saturday's win over Exeter. His late sweep to the blindside overloaded the defence for Jack Kenningham's try at the other end of the contest.Harlequins were far more ruthless than Chiefs.The visitors came away with five tries from seven visits to Exeter's 22m. The Chiefs corresponding figure was four from 13.Smith's leadership was key as he steered his side back from seven points down early in the second half to victory.That game management will be under the microscope if Smith does get the nod to start against the Wallabies.Borthwick will also have noted a brewing batch of young English-qualified forwards – two-try Lucas Schmid, second row Elliot Williams and replacement front row Will Hobson, Sam Riley, Ollie Streeter among them – who came together well in a hard-nosed performance.Leicester could easily be sitting pretty, not only at the top of the table, but also with a 100% record.The 40-38 defeat by Saracens in the opening round - their only Prem loss so far this season - was a game which could have crumbled any which way.Since then, they have ground their way into first place via some stereotypically forthright performances.Captain Ollie Chessum has arrived late to this Prem campaign. A foot injury kept him out until last weekend's win over Northampton.But he has been bristling with intent, embodying Leicester's ethos.After a grapple with Henry Pollock and others in the East Midlands derby, he briefly got shirty with England team-mate Ellis Genge at Ashton Gate. Knowing smiles were quickly shared between the pair rather than any flying fists.But Chessum was a nuisance all night for the Bears, charging down scrum-half Harry Randall in the opening two minutes, wrecking the hosts' line-out, securing a couple of turnovers and bringing his physicality and energy to bear in close quarters.It was a performance to vindicate a bumper new contract, announced last week.For their investment, Tigers and coach Geoff Parling have the perfect figurehead to rally around.