‘Steward was unbelievable!’
DEACON HAILS PERFORMANCE OF TIGERS FULL-BACK WHO OUTSHONE ENGLAND AND LIONS RIVAL
LEICESTER Tigers full-back Freddie Steward’s commanding performance against Bath has been hailed as “unbelievable”.
The 6ft 5in back was imperious in the air despite testing conditions at Welford Road, helping to defuse threats and establish field position for his side in the 36-31 Gallagher Premiership round five victory on Sunday.
Steward also weighed in with Tigers’ second of three tries in a fine all-round performance that compared favourably to Bath’s
England and British and Irish Lions star, Anthony Watson, who endured an error-strewn afternoon.
“Unbelievable,” said Tigers coach Brett Deacon, when asked about the stability Steward brought in the back field.
“I touched on earlier how important territory is now and how important territory is to get as efficiently and as clinical as you can out your own half.
“The way he controlled the high ball, he’s playing against a British Lion full-back and I thought Freddie looked the better player so brilliant.
“Credit to Freddie, he works on it a lot, great concentration under difficult conditions, so great game from Freddie.”
Steward, who only turned 20 in December, was making just his 13th start for Tigers and landed his third senior try either side of efforts from locks Harry Wells and Cameron Henderson.
The other 21 points came from the boot of George Ford, who edged the battle with fellow international Rhys Priestland, who kicked 16 points before being replaced with 15 minutes to go.
“Our leadership group really led from the front,” said Deacon.
“We found solutions to come back into the game and win it. So overall, [I’m] pretty happy.
“I think the way we controlled the territory, our discipline has probably been the best it’s been this season so far.
“That’s what we’re seeing in games now – if you’re the most disciplined team, if you can control the territory, the best normally will come out on top.
“That’s what we knew before the game, our leaders knew that and they controlled field position well.
“George putting up those spiral bombs in the second half was really the turning point.”