With the Rugby World Cup just weeks away, fans' thoughts are currently on the squads being selected for the tournament in France.

Yet England already appear to have secured their most important figure in the form of sports specialist lawyer Richard Smith KC of Guildhall Chambers.

Smith represented the RFU in its appeal against the decision to show a red card to England captain Owen Farrell for a high tackle in the narrow win over Wales last week. Farrell’s subsequent suspension would have resulted in him missing two more warm-up matches and England’s World Cup opener against Argentina.

To Obiter’s untrained eye, Farrell’s tackle did indeed look on the high side, but Smith successfully persuaded an independent judicial committee to overturn the red card, citing a touch from another player which sent Wales’ Taine Basham in Farrell’s direction.

In wonderfully abstract speak, the committee ‘found that a late change in dynamics due to England number two’s [George] interaction in the contact area brought about a sudden and significant change in direction from the ball carrier’.

The upshot is that Farrell is in the clear, the rugby community is slightly baffled about what constitutes dangerous play and Smith is being lauded as England’s not-so-secret weapon.

Former England coach Sir Clive Woodward, who brought Smith into the set-up in 2002, told the Mail: ‘Richard proved his worth to me instantly on several fronts and was an excellent team player. Two decades on, he is still working brilliantly with English rugby. The Farrell situation once again shows the importance of having a good lawyer in your team. I’ve no doubt that without Richard in his corner, Farrell would not have got off as lightly as he did.’

Smith's work is apparently not done, however. as World Rugby gave notice on Thursday of its intention to appeal. 

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