England outside back to 'front up' against Boks
SPOTLIGHT: England fullback Freddie Steward claims there is more to his game than being good under the high-ball, but understands that’s why he’s selected to face the world champions South Africa on Saturday.
The 23-year-old has been recalled at No.15 by England coach Steve Borthwick in a bid to take advantage of a law tweak designed to create fairer aerial contests.
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has described Steward’s high-ball ability as ‘devastating’ and Borthwick labelled it as his ‘super strength’.
Steward, an imposing 1.96 metres tall, started 2024 as England’s preferred No.15, but lost his spot to George Furbank midway through the Six Nations and has been struggling to obtain game time this year.
“The whole way through the coaches have been brilliant – there have been open conversations about what I needed to do to get back in the team to push my game on,” Steward said on Friday.
“There is a difference between trying to be something that you are not rather than focusing on what got you there in the first place.”
He added: “I am not going to shy away from the fact that my strengths lie more in the aerial bits of the game and stability at the back.
“I would like to think that hasn’t changed too much – hopefully it has improved – but of course I’m looking to grow other areas of my game and I have been pushing them over the last couple of months. Hopefully I can bring them on to the field.”
Borthwick accused World Rugby chiefs on Tuesday of being too quick in launching a crackdown on ‘escort’ runners just before the November internationals took place, with the former England skipper saying it risked turning the game into Australian rules football.
Escort runners are players who impede opposition players chasing after high balls.
Fullback Steward, however, welcomed the change because “you look forward to those aerial contests”.
“It’s proper one-on-ones now. You don’t have any blockers or obstructions, so it’s something to get excited about,” he said.
England, who already suffered defeats to New Zealand and Australia this month, are looking to revive their November campaign in a rematch of the 2023 World Cup semifinal which the Springboks edged 16-15.
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“The Springboks bring a lot of contests to the game,” said Steward, who played in that match.
“Up front, physically and in the air, they have got footwork on the outside and speed and we have got to front up.
“We are never going to be a team that sits on the back foot and lets the challenge come at us. We have to tackle it head on.”
