England have been missing someone like Freddie Steward for a while — he can be their Peter Schmeichel, the ultimate safe pair of hands at the back.
When you have a solid full-back it’s like a having a top goalkeeper in football. Any balls that go over the defence’s head, in behind you, are swept up which makes the job for the boys in front so much easier. It calms everyone down having a full-back like Steward, he can be the base England build off.
It was nice of Eddie Jones to say he’s the best English full-back since I played — I was only working with a 6ft frame but he’s 6ft 5ins which helps! He can be like Jordie Barrett is for the All Blacks: a tall, commanding presence.
Freddie Steward is a dependable performer and can be a safe pair of hands at the back
Steward can be as reliable for England as goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel (above) was for Manchester United
With full-backs, people often just want to see highlight reels, dazzling breaks, but playing well there is about nailing your fundamentals first and foremost. I want to see high-ball skills, making the right decisions to kick, run or pass, one-on-one tackles, clearing up mess and counter-attacking ability.
You cannot dismiss those skills if you want to have longevity and consistency as an international full-back. If you don’t have that at the highest level you can put your team under so much pressure
Having built the fundamentals, Steward sprinkled that little bit of gold-dust by hitting that brilliant line off Marcus Smith, and then taking on Kurtley Beale one-on-one. For me that’s the extra flair, but you have to start with the basics.
South Africa are coming next week, and there is no better team in the world at pressurising players with their kicking game, so Steward will be
