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Why 'fantastic' Biggar and 'goalkeeper' Barrett inspire Steward
New England full-back Freddie Steward has spoken about the spell cast on him in recent times by Wales’ Dan Biggar and Jordie Barrett of the All Blacks, two players he has most looked up to in order to develop his own game to become a Test level No15. The 20-year-old Leicester player has been at full-back in his country’s four most recent matches and he will look to extend that winning run to five this Saturday when he lines out as a starter against the Springboks at Twickenham.
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There are high hopes that the youngster has the talent to go on and enjoy a decade-long Test level career and he has studiously kept an eye on some established players from rival countries to help ensure his own game is up to scratch.
“A guy who I used to watch last year particularly was Dan Biggar,” explained Steward, who made his England debut in the summer series win over the USA in early July. “He is one of the best in the world with that sort of kick and regather. He is fantastic in the air.
“And now you look around the world and you see Jordie Barrett, who has been fantastic for the All Blacks. He has been a rock at the back. He is just almost like a goalkeeper back there and that is something that is a really good example of how full-backs can be used these days.”
Full-back is a relatively newish position for England newcomer Steward who started out at the age of four as a fly-half before switching into the midfield as a 12-year-old. It was only three years later, at the age of 15, that the career-making decision was taken for him to move to full-back and the rest, as they say, is history.
It was 2018 when new England star Freddie Steward was starring in the RugbyPass documentary series on Leicester's academy… the 20-year-old now explains why his career has accelerated so quickly #England #ENGvRSA #AutumnNationsSeries #Springboks https://t.co/pW1rfvc7zo
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 16, 2021
“When we made the switch I had a chat with my academy coach and we just thought it was the right thing to do. I was tall at the time but that height gave me an immediate advantage and from then on it was identified as something that could be my point of difference. I wouldn’t say it has come naturally. It has taken a lot of hard work to perfect. Even last season there were plenty of games when I was making mistakes and I still do drop them now. It is something I will continue to work hard on.
“At full-back, you see the game from a different perspective because you are always trying to predict what is going to happen, you look at tens and try to work out where they are going to kick to next.
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“You are then organising your wingers, so you have got that responsibility, so it was very different to start with. You go from defending in the front line to suddenly standing behind everyone, telling everyone where to be and what to do. It definitely took a couple of seasons to really get used to that role.”
Facing the Springboks at the age of 20 will very much be a pinch-me moment for Steward, especially as he remembers being out on loan from Leicester two years ago and watching the World Cup final in a clubhouse bar. “I was out on loan at Loughborough University and we had a rugby session that Saturday morning and all the boys went back into the clubhouse to watch it on the big screen.
“We had one South African with us, he was the only guy in the room with a few Scots cheering for South Africa which didn’t go down very well. I remember watching that game and to be suddenly sat here with the prospect of playing South Africa on Saturday is very strange.
“South Africa are a team that employs that contestable kick tactic very often so that is definitely a challenge to be aware of but also to be excited about. I love going in the air and catching the high ball, so I am excited to see what can happen on Saturday.
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Comments on RugbyPass
The rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
76 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to comments