Furbank shines for England as Quins trio feature in record win
It is perhaps still a little too early for Quins fans to feel they can lay claim to their club having much to do with England’s latest full-back – but they will gladly enjoy any successes new man George Furbank can achieve on the international stage now he is in their colours.
On Sunday, at the Allianz Stadium, they will have allowed themselves a degree of satisfaction as Furbank made a really solid contribution to England’s record-breaking 45-22 victory over Australia in the northern hemisphere round of Nations Championship fixtures.
Although not on the scoresheet himself, the 30-year-old number 15, earning his 15th cap, instigated several moves with swift handling and sound spatial awareness which paved the way for a couple of the team’s seven tries as they racked up more points against the Aussies than they have ever done in a single Test match.
The win was comprehensive and much needed after a dreadful showing in the Six Nations Championship earlier in 2026.
Furbank helped Northampton Saints to a Premiership final triumph over Exeter Chiefs last season – his second such achievement – before deciding to switch to Harlequins in the summer. He made 147 appearances for the Saints and scored 308 points for them.
At 30, he may be considered to have blossomed fairly late in his career, but his performance at Twickenham suggests he can soon endear himself at the Stoop in the way another former England full-back did in the shape of the highly popular Mike Brown – who has a bar named after him at the club.
Furbank made his England debut against France in 2020 but had been out of the picture for two years before re-appearing in 2024 to score his maiden Test try against Scotland.
He was due to play in the summer Test in South Africa but was thwarted by appendicitis, yet the autumn internationals offer him a great opportunity to impress head coach Steve Borthwick ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
England play Japan and New Zealand in the coming weeks before a third clash against southern hemisphere opposition on finals weekend of this fledgling competition, which has the feel – if not yet the status – of a mini world cup.
Borthwick is likely to take kindly to those who stepped up to the plate in the rout of the Aussies given the background going into the match – rumours swirling around of player discontent with the boss.
Also involved in the handsome win were two others from the Stoop. Prop Fin Baxter – earning his 19th cap as part of a dominant pack which set the tone from the word go – and Marcus Smith, who had to make do with a run-out from the bench after coming on late on to earn his 54th cap.
It is not easy for Smith playing a bit part when he has been a major go-to man in the past. In his anxiety to make an impression, he knocked-on when trying to catch a simple pass – the sort of error that is not common for the fly-half.
But you would not bet against him coming good at some stage – with his recent brilliant return to action for Quins in that season-igniting win against Saracens proving how positive an influence he continues to exert.
