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Freddie Steward’s barnstorming campaign has seen the full-back take a stronghold of England’s 15 jersey.
Steward, still only 25, is enjoying the best form of his club career at Leicester Tigers - winning player of the match in their previous two outings against Newcastle Red Bulls and Gloucester.
Having broken into the national team as one of the game’s best bomb defusers, Steward was overlooked in recent years in favour of George Furbank’s expansive threat with ball in hand, and Marcus Smith’s playmaking.
Furbank has spent the majority of 2025 on the sidelines through injury, while the jury remains out on whether Smith is capable of playing Test match rugby at 15 due to defensive issues failing to offset his gifted ability with ball in hand.
A force at full-back
England recalled Steward for their hugely successful Argentina tour, and he then went on to play a pivotal role in Steve Borthwick’s side’s remarkable turnaround, extending their win streak to 11 on the spin.
But Steward, criticised in the past for being slow on the turn, has upgraded his speed and has become a serious threat with ball in hand, repeatedly getting his team over the gain line with his power.
At 6ft 5inch and 105 kgs, Steward packs a punch and is hard to stop in opposition 22s shown by an impressive strike rate of 10 tries in his 41 caps.
Also impressive is how he’s repeatedly seen making the right decisions under pressure and often looking like he has more time on the ball than every other player on the pitch - a gift truly worth its weight in gold.
Centre option?
Steward’s stellar display against Gloucester showcased his playmaking skills and handling ability, which begs the question that if Borthwick prefers a more dynamic 15 in Furbank or Smith, he may look at Steward as another centre option.
England’s problem position has long been at 12 since the well-documented over-reliance on Manu Tuilagi for the past decade.
Tommy Freeman has recently played at 13 for England, meaning Borthwick now possesses an embarrassment of riches of outside centres: Ollie Lawrence, Fraser Dingwall (who has played far more at 13 for Northampton than 12), Henry Slade, Oscar Beard. Steward has become rock solid in defence, often seen obliterating his counterparts, meaning he could be comfortable as a 13 option but do England really need another?
Despite Max Ojomoh’s impressive display against Argentina, he is hardly a physical specimen in the elk of Damian de Allende, Jordie Barrett or Bundee Aki. Seb Atkinson is an out and out 12 but after a promising Argentina tour, has suffered with both a loss of form and injuries.
A coach’s dream
Steward, who is physically blessed and in the form of his life, may be Borthwick’s answer at 12.
However, if you add in his experience of playing on the wing, has Steward just become England’s best No.23 option? Which is of course a pivotal position with Borthwick set to go with a 6:2 bench split for the foreseeable…