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Ben Redshaw: 'The way the boys looked up to Farrell was special'
Ben Redshaw was left speechless when the call came for him to hook up with the England Test squad in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage for match week one at last year’s Rugby World Cup.
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The plan four months out from his 19th birthday was to get used to academy life at Newcastle under new boss Alex Codling, not to head across the Channel and muck in with Steve Borthwick and co ahead of their tournament opener versus Argentina.
He loved the experience and its huge impact has since driven him onto great things: debuting in the Falcons’ Gallagher Premiership first-team as an 18-year-old in October and also becoming part of the first-choice fabric on Mark Mapletoft’s England U20s in the current age-grade Six Nations.
Looking back now on his whirlwind adventure in France, an invitation that Borthwick extended to two youngsters per week during the pool stages at the finals to give them reconnaissance as to what it is to be an England Test player, Redshaw was still in thrall to what unfolded.
“I was pretty speechless going out there,” he said when asked by RugbyPass what he had taken from his time hanging out with Borthwick’s crew in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage while they prepared for their tournament-opening win over the Pumas in Marseille.
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“It was a pretty unbelievable experience. Training with and speaking with players that I have been watching for all my life really, watching them on the TV and stuff. Just getting the opportunity to have one-to-one conversations with (Owen) Farrell and Manu (Tuilagi) and all these big names was pretty special.
“Just the professionalism. Like the way they worked together as a group was really special, and the way they spoke to each other, communicating with each other. Farrell was a big leader at the time. He was out with his red card but still, the way he led that and the way the boys looked up to him in a sense was pretty special.
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“It was a big part of his leadership and I took a lot from that. And then obviously what they do off the pitch was really special as well in terms of the recovery, looking after their bodies. A lot of them work really hard around their robustness and things like that so not taking that for granted was something I use.”
Redshaw had originally expected his 2023/24 campaign to be filled with outings for Tynedale, the National 2 North outfit, just so the full-back could find his feet in adult rugby.
What has transpired, however, has been more than that. He has played just twice for his loan club, instead packing in five Newcastle first-team appearances – three Premiership and two European Challenge Cup.
Although his time is currently taken up with England’s U20s title challenge, which encounters its latest challenge when defending champions Ireland visit The Rec on Friday night, he has still had his eyes opened by Steve Diamond, his new Newcastle boss who has recently taken over from the axed Codling.
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“We have had a couple of meetings with Steve and he is looking to bring a lot of change which is something I am really excited about personally and I am sure the team is as well. Steve gives us that stern thing that we need, that stern emotion.
“Like a lot of the boys starting to take ownership of their roles and their skill set and I think it’s going to really pay off for us and hopefully these next six games in the Premiership will be a lot different for us and hopefully we will be able to get a result.
“Tynedale has been my loan club this year. I have only had two weeks, two opportunities to play for them. It’s a good challenge for me, a good way of seeing where I’m at and being able to change between environments.
“Like with the 20s, it’s good to put myself in different environments, put myself in different scenarios and be able to challenge myself. Being involved in the likes of the Challenge Cup games and a bit of the Premiership has been pretty awesome.
“Just being able to balance that and challenge me going from one league to another, just adapting and playing with different people around me has been a big thing that I have taken from that and something I will hopefully take going forward as well.”
Redshaw has shown positional versatility with England U20s in recent weeks, starting the championship at full-back in Italy and then featuring twice at outside centre. Against Ireland at The Rec, though, he will run out reinstated at No15 – with very good reason.
“Full-back suits a lot of my strengths,” he said. “I’m still physically developing and at 13 this week we have gone for a bit of a heavier 13 [Ben Waghorn] and someone who is going to bring us that front foot ball, something that I have not offered just yet.
“I’m a bit more of a dynamic 13 myself. Hopefully, 15 should open up a few options in the wider channels and I can straighten us up. I’m looking forward to that.
“It’s going to be a very direct game. Ireland will bring a very direct, powerful, through-the-middle game. But on the flip side, I’m expecting us to nullify that with our line speed and our aggressive defence which is what we have been focusing on.
“We have got attacking threats just as much as they do. We have got to respect that from them. They have won three from three as well. A big challenge for us at the weekend and one we are all really looking forward to.”
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England’s age-grade campaign in 2024 will culminate in this summer’s Junior World Championship in South Africa. Before that Cape Town adventure, they will look to close out the Six Nations on a winning note, looking to add the scalps of the Irish and the French to their February winning streak versus Italy, Wales and Scotland.
“I have absolutely loved it, really enjoying being in a different environment with the camp and the lads,” said Redshaw, reflecting on the progress of the squad assembled by Mapletoft. “It has been a great experience right from the start.
“We have become really close as a group and it shows on and off the pitch just how much we are willing to work for each other. It has been a great experience and a big part of my development so far.
“A lot of our emphasis around analysis and putting a lot more detail into that in terms of watching the likes of Ireland coming up and we have had three games already. It’s just realising how being so close as a group can really help you.
“We put a really big emphasis on what we call our brotherhood as a group. It has been really special to spend however many weeks we have had together as a group and be able to put in our performances because of that.”
Comments on RugbyPass
RugbyPass writers are useless! you guys should get a real job because you all suck at writing about rugby!!!
8 Go to commentslooking forward to RWC2027 …. Boks on mission impossible for the Three-in-a-row, ABs to prove they being on par, France wishing to crown the “DuPont-era”, Ireland knocking on the Semi-Door ….. until then we’ll probably have to deal with Weird Ben’s fantasy-RWC23 (fun fact is, the drivel always creates a flooding of comments) …..
221 Go to commentsBen Smith you really make some good points in this article, the Springboks were not close to perfect and good still beat the All Blacks, imagine if they were as good as they were against France what a hiding the All Blacks would have gotten… maybe another Twickenham drubbing
221 Go to commentsIt is a good argument to keep the Rebels for one more year but also isnt this just opening the door as well for keeping them beyond 2025. If they can create some sort of financial stability in the next year and if their performances lift as they have this season then how would RA even cull them after that? It might be the most cost effective decision at this stage and perhaps many people are guilty of keeping relationships going because of the cost to decouple but then again when does that ever work out well?
19 Go to commentsDear Ben Smith you are a genius! God please become the next all blacks coach that can take on the mighty BOKS. Your rugby acumen is second to none - imagine your dads sperm bounced as unfortunately as that oval ball did….we would not be blessed with your presence. Just as the all blacks were missing a man you too are missing a chromosome for 80% of your life, so your insights are not only profound but ring true from your own experiences. Just as the TMO interfered with citing an illegal pass I am sure your local authorities interfere with your illegal passes you make on women - How dare they!!! God forbid that rugby be officiated fairly. You are the right man for the job. Next all blacks coach is here ladies and gentlemen Miss Ben Smith (He/She/They/IT)
221 Go to commentsHuge engine this guy and great to see him back ..The amount of clean outs he does at the ruck are ridiculous !!
3 Go to commentsThe level of desperation in this article is just embarrassing.
221 Go to commentsSome silly trolling in the comments.
9 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
61 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
19 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
61 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to commentsThe Melbourne Rebels lineout is a complete disaster so not surprisingly a kiwi coach of the Wallabies hires the worst lineout coach in the country and a foreigner to boot. No surprises whatsoever here…….
6 Go to commentsThank your for wasting 2 minutes of my life Daniel. There is a useful message in there somewhere but your delivery sucks.
8 Go to commentsBen Smith, you are cry baby
221 Go to commentsSux that homophobia is still a thing though. I wonder how many players who could have become legends never kept playing rugby because they felt unwelcome.
8 Go to commentsCrazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
8 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
8 Go to commentsHonest, discipline, humility… Priceless.
2 Go to comments