In the pack, the likes of Bevan Rodd - called up mid-series due to Covid-enforced absences in the front row - Jamie Blamire and Alex Dombrandt have staked a claim for further involvement too, but few newcomers have attracted perhaps as much attention as Marcus Smith. "The game panned out as I thought," Carrick said. "When you've had the results we've had and gone through what we've gone through in the last few days, you'd be foolish to think you can come here, pick a team and it will be free-flowing football. "We got into good positions, we wanted method in the madness and move South Africa around, a game plan that they don't want," he said. "A game plan we do want is to keep high tempo and keep moving around and show off our individual talents. Jamie George, initially left out of Jones' autumn squad before Luke Cowan-Dickie suffering an ankle injury saw him recalled, and Farrell are both still to come back in the new year after suffering long-term injuries as well and the 61-year-old believes there is a good balance in the side at present.