Smith is the star as Chiefs crushed

By GARY FITZGERALD

Harlequins ………………….. 40pts

Tries: Murley 10, Bassett 23, Riley 28, Marchant 31, 56; Lewies 65

Conversions: Smith 11, 24, 32, 58, 66

Exeter …………………………….. 5pts

Tries: Innard 45

MARCUS Smith shrugged off his England despair to inspire Quins to a thrashing of Chiefs and prove a major point in front of the watching Steve Borthwick.

The fly-half, dropped from Borthwick's Six Nations plans for the clash with France, kicked 10 points in a man-of-thematch display in this rout. He may not be going to strut his stuff at Twickenham Stadium next Saturday, but he did so in style and with an abundance of skill here in Big Game 14 as Quins grabbed a bonus point win.

The Londoners moved up to fifth place in a congested table with this win in front of 54,669, as the battle for play-off places continues to heat up.

Smith denied he was motivated to send a message to Borthwick, insisting: “That wasn't in the forefront of my mind. I've only ever wanted to go out there and enjoy playing my rugby and do my best for the team.

“It was special to be back among my mates who I love playing with. There's not a better place to play rugby than Twickenham in front of a big crowd. It was an unbelievable atmosphere. When we get fast ball we are a dangerous side.”

The two teams walked out to deafening music, and lazers and smoke filling the south west London sky. But it was Smith's brilliance which shone out brightest and made the biggest noise.

Quins surged into a 26-0 lead and it was oneway traffic. Chiefs were left dazzled and dazed in the headlights as they struggled to stop the rot.

The hosts had Josh Bassett sin-binned after five minutes for a deliberate knock on but they quickly took a grip on the game with Smith's chip through gathered by Andre Esterhuizen who fed the supporting Murley to gallop over for the opening try.

Smith's kicking from hand almost created another try for Murley who burst down the right wing to try and take the ball as it bounced but it eluded his grasp.

Chiefs lost fly-half Harvey Skinner to the sin bin for causing a head to head collision with the on-coming James Chisholm.

Danny Care and Esterhuizen combined to send Bassett racing through with Smith converting again. Care turned on the magic to set up the third for hooker Sam Riley who had only been on the field for a minute as replacement for injured George Head.

The England veteran produced an outstanding piece of acrobatic skill, tipping a backwards pass before being tackled into touch to Riley who dived over the line. There was still time for the bonus point as a move down the left flank left Chiefs flagging again and it was left to Smith to feed Joe Marchant to dive over for the fourth try. Chiefs started the second half well with hooker Jack Innard claiming a try from a driving maul to life the Exeter spirits. But any hope of a fightback soon faded with Smith's grubber through being pounced on by Marchant to complete his brace.

Stephan Lewies bulldozed his way over for the sixth try and Chiefs were crushed into the turf.