I need to be a leader - England and Quins 10 Smith

Marcus Smith struggled with his kicking in the one-point first-Test defeat by New Zealand in Dunedin this summer

Harlequins and England fly-half Marcus Smith has challenged himself to step up and show his ability to direct and inspire his team-mates in the coming season.

"This year it is going to be especially important to show my leadership," Smith told BBC 5 Live's Rugby Union Weekly.

"We have obviously had some big players leaving the club - some stalwarts like Will Collier [Castres in France] and the man mountain outside me Andre Esterhuizen [Sharks in South Africa] - so there is going to be an added responsibility on us older players. I want to bring that more to the table."

The 25-year-old, who has 35 Test caps, is a contender to make a second British and Irish Lions tour next summer after being called up to the 2021 trip to South Africa as a Test rookie.

He believes his experience in the southern hemisphere this summer has strengthened the mental side of his game.

Smith missed three kicks in England's 16-15 defeat by New Zealand in Dunedin, but recovered to deliver a much-improved performance off the tee in the second Test the following week.

"I personally struggled after the first Test in New Zealand," Smith added.

"I think it knocked me back a bit.

"It was a missed opportunity going down to New Zealand and getting so close.

"That is my job as a kicker - to put the points over for the lads - and I didn't do my job to the levels I wanted to.

"But I am glad I was given the nod to kick again the week after and I felt I kicked a lot better in that game.

"I learned a lot about myself, about resilience and dealing with different crowds.

"They were shouting and booing and it was a new experience for me - hopefully it will put me in a better position if I get another opportunity to tour there again."

Harlequins finished sixth for a second consecutive season in their last campaign, shipping an average of almost 29 points a game, and Smith says the recruitment of Australian defence coach Jason Gilmore will be key to making the play-offs.

"I have only worked with him in the last week and a half, but the level of detail has been a level up from any defence coach I have had at Quins," said Smith.

"If we can improve that 10-15%, I think we will be there or thereabouts."