England skills coach Kevin Sinfield has confirmed that the team will persist with playing Marcus Smith at fullback.
Smith has been deployed at fullback rather than his preferred position of fly-half in England's last two Six Nations games. The 26-year-old has made just five starts at No. 15.
While the move has diminished some of Smith's attacking flair, Sinfield believes it's a better tactical fit for England.
"If we throw it in the bin now it'll be a wasted opportunity," he said in an interview with The Times. "You look at how the game is played now and how valuable a second ball player can be; Marcus's big strengths are when he is in space.
"We know he can do it when it's tight and there are lots of bodies around. He's able to move laterally very quickly so he puts defenders under a lot of stress. Clearly it makes sense to try and get him a little bit wider where the gaps tend to be a little bit bigger.
"It was never going to be an easy transition because he doesn't play there for his club a lot, although they have used him a bit, when they bring [Welsh fly-half] Jarrod Evans on. He's not had a great deal of time there [at fullback]. We have all seen the reports how he loves playing No. 10, he is an outstanding No. 10, but I think he is a very, very good No. 15 as well.
"Clearly there are some elements that we all need to be better at, and I think Marcus would agree. Some of his No. 10 and his No. 15 play needs to improve."
England, who are third on the table, next host Italy on March 9.
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