As they stand 14 points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand, even Pep Guardiola is up against it as his side chase a fifth successive title.

There is no question Fin Smith is a very talented fly-half and I would have loved to watch him run the show but he is up against it at the moment because it is a very big decision to say Marcus Smith is not going to play at 10.

"It is tough when you are up against it and you need to shake that negative energy I guess and move on," the Bristol Bears prop added.

When Newcastle were up against it he went 'right, watch this'.

Jacob Bethell went for a duck, with captain Liam Livingstone joining him in the dressing room inside the powerplay, leaving England up against it.