It was at the locale a matter of two miles or so from Twickenham where Smith’s mother Judith first set eyes on his father, Andrew; two Scots not then knowing that they would one day produce a player who will spend much of next week plotting their nation’s sporting demise.
The London Scottish clubhouse may seem a peculiar place to embark on the life and times of England’s new fly half star, but the rickety Richmond hangout is where Fin Smith’s story really begins.
Interview: On cloud nine after a dream first Test start, England’s new fly half star opens up on his Scottish links, that match-winning try against France and more.
It is only a year since Smith’s Test bow in the last Six Nations closed the book on his international future, having been the subject of discussions on both sides of the border since his formative days at Shipston-on-Stour Rugby Club and Warwick School.
He basically stayed on the short side for as long as he could to hold their scrum half, holding the first defender on the open side slightly tighter because they were worried about him sweeping up that side.
