UP FOR ANOTHER EXAM
Freddie Steward (right) yesterday
FREDDIE STEWARD goes from a university exam to the ultimate Test when he pits his wits against Finn Russell at Twickenham.
The Leicester full-back was the one true success story for England in a dire year of results which culminated in Eddie Jones’ sacking.
Yet the changing of the guard means even he is not immune from having to prove himself all over again in this evening’s Calcutta Cup showdown.
Five days after sitting a three-hour economics paper in a quiet corner of the England camp, 6ft 4in Steward is primed to come out fighting.
He said: “Fight is the word that’s been used, a word that brings everyone together; it’s a non-negotiable for us. It has to be there.
“If you go out and have lads who aren’t willing to fight, particularly on a big stage like the Six Nations, you’re going to be in trouble. Kev (Sinfield), with everything he’s done and the way he talks about fight and the battle and working for each other, has brought a sense of unity and spirit this week that will help us go to the front-line.”
Much depends on Steward defusing the aerial bombs put up by Russell, the Scotland playmaker, whom he considers “probably a back-three’s greatest enemy with his full bag of tricks”.
While admitting he will feel nervous, the 22-year-old, a part-time student, will try to stay relaxed as the seconds tick down to kick-off.
“Some lads like to be frothing at the mouth and ready to go through a brick wall,” he said. “Full-back is a position where you have to think a lot but you can also never lose that edge. It’s about finding that balance.”
Remarkably, given they did not win at Twickenham between 1983 and 2021, Scotland have not lost to England since 2017. One defeat in that sequence stands out more than the rest, however, for England forwards coach Richard Cockerill as he was in charge of Edinburgh in 2018 and bet his team the Scots would lose.
When they did not the former firebrand hooker had to take training wearing a tartan See You Jimmy hat.
“It was very painful,” said Cockerill. “I still live in Edinburgh and see every day how competitive the Scots are against the English. So we know it means a lot to Scotland but it means a hell of a lot to us as an England team.
“The rivalry will be fierce both on and off the field and I assure you we will have enough passion to match the Scots’.”