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England hint at a tactic that doesn't involve Steward at 14 or 15
England attack coach Martin Gleeson hasn’t dismissed the idea of Freddie Steward being used as a first receiver outside Marcus Smith at set-piece in an effort to fire up the creativity of a team that has struggled for tries in this year’s Guinness Six Nations. Eddie Jones’ side is in Paris ahead of their round five match this Saturday knowing their championship attack has so far been blunt.
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Just a single try was scored in each of the matches versus Scotland and Wales while they were held tryless last weekend by Ireland in a 15-32 Twickenham defeat. That loss has been followed by the selection of an XV showing five changes – including the first-time selection of regular full-back Freddie Steward on the England wing to accommodate George Furbank for his first start in the No15 shirt since October 2020.
It’s all a bit cloak and dagger, especially coming up against the notorious French defence coach Shaun Edwards who has enjoyed nothing better over the years than shutting down the England attack when working with Wales and lately with France.
So what might England have up their sleeve other than a handkerchief as they look to attack the Grand Slam-chasing France? It was put to attack coach Martin Gleeson on Friday whether the potential existed for Steward to now lineup as the first receiver at inside centre outside Smith straight from set-piece.
“He could be,” quipped Gleeson. Is that something run in training or used in practice with him? “I’m not too sure but he is a big fella so he will attract some defenders if he does get in that position.”
Gleeson went on to give his take on a reshuffled England back three where Steward has been switched to the right wing after nine straight starts at full-back to allow the inclusion of Furbank at No15. “Tactically the way France kick is a lot longer so there is not that much competition in the air.
“We feel adding George in can open up a few avenues for us and having Freddie on the wing opens up a couple of different things as well. It’s a tactical decision based on how we want to play against France,” continued the assistant, who sounded like he has enthusiastically embraced the challenge of trying to unlock the Edwards French defence.
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“Unbelievable. He has transformed them, hasn’t he? He is simplistic in his message and he gets the buy-in, the lads respect him 100 per cent and they will go to the trenches for him. That is what his appeal is as a coach and no matter where he goes he seems to have success, so I have got nothing but the utmost respect for him as a bloke and as a coach.
“It is very notoriously hard to break his defence down. We have got a few things in place that we are looking at to try and expose that. We feel there are a couple of chinks in their armour and a mixture of backs and forwards will be trying to do that on Saturday.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
1 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
4 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
23 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
23 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
16 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
23 Go to comments