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Bristol intend to block any potential attempt by England to recruit the veteran Australian flanker George Smith to help fix their breakdown woes before the autumn internationals.
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Smith is well known to Eddie Jones, having played under him for the Brumbies and Australia, and was drafted in from Wasps for a breakdown masterclass in January 2016 shortly before England clinched their first grand slam in 13 years. It was a move praised by a number of Jones’s players, including Smith’s clubmate James Haskell, but while he lent his expertise back then with the blessing of the Wasps director of rugby, Dai Young, the Bristol head coach, Pat Lam, would reject any fresh approach.
“Not while he’s signed for us,” Lam said. “Certainly, any player signed for Bristol, their first and foremost is to do their work for Bristol. That’s why we sign them. Anything that happens after that, if I get asked that question I’ll deal with it then but everyone, myself included, their attention is for Bristol.”
Smith left Wasps at the end of the 2015-16 season and, before signing with Bristol in June, had spells in Japan and with the Queensland Reds. The 38-year-old, who has 111 Wallabies caps, signed a six-month deal in the West Country and it is understood there was further interest for his services in England, including one potential player-coach role. Smith said he had not spoken to Jones about the possibility of helping England again, having returned to the Premiership. “I haven’t been contacted by Eddie in regards to that,” he said. “At this stage no, my focus is very much with Bristol. I don’t have the spare time at this stage.”
When Smith’s six-month contract at Bristol expires, he could be available to help England before the Six Nations if they so wish. Jones has not called on any specialist outside help with the breakdown since Smith’s stint in 2016 but it was an area he repeatedly highlighted as a problem during England’s worst Six Nations finish for 31 years this year. It was also an issue during the series defeat by South Africa over the summer.
Meanwhile, with Smith and Charles Piutau bolstering his Championship-winning squad, Lam has targeted a top-six finish on Bristol’s return to the Premiership. “The dream is when you think of Bristol Rugby, that they are a Champions Cup team,” he said.