Freddie Steward has vowed to fight his way back into the England Test team, prioritising tough love on a quest for self-improvement.
High-ball master Steward has hardly put a foot wrong for club or country since powering onto the Test scene in 2021.
The Leicester full-back has racked up an impressive 33 caps at just 23 years of age, but now finds himself behind Northampton’s George Furbank in the Red Rose pecking order.
Steward struggled to shake off the frustrations of England’s 16-15 World Cup semi-final defeat by South Africa in October, and then lost his starting spot to Furbank in the Six Nations.
Leicester endured a miserable campaign finishing eighth in the Premiership, while Furbank and East Midlands rivals Northampton swept to a first league title in 10 years.
Furbank has been rewarded for his fine club form with another start at 15 in Saturday’s summer tour opener against Japan in Tokyo, while Steward has not made the matchday 23.
England will face New Zealand in Dunedin on July 6 and Auckland on July 13 however, and Steward is already fully focused on forcing head coach Steve Borthwick into a selection switch.
“I am very hard on myself, and I think it’s a learning curve for me in terms of understanding that,” Steward tells Standard Sport.
“You learn most from the setbacks, that’s what stick with you and help you improve.
“Maybe I’m too hard on myself, but that’s just the way I am. And it helps me in the long-run, because I demand more from myself.
I’ve learned so much from the experiences of the last year, I feel I’ve matured massively
“It creates the want for me to get back into the team, and to improve in certain areas. I’ve learned so much from the experiences of the last year, I feel I’ve matured massively.”
Steward remains among the world’s strongest high-ball exponents, but was overtaken by England’s desire to attack with more width and pace in the Six Nations.
Northampton star Furbank stepped into the starting lineup at 15 for the second round against Scotland, and has kept his place since.
Steward’s enduring class however ought to ensure that he emerges from this selection dip firstly an improved player, and secondly, as a once-again regular England feature.
“We didn’t perform as we wanted at Leicester, the World Cup semi-final hurt for a long time, and then of course I didn’t play in those last few Six Nations matches,” says Steward.
“So, it has been a challenge, mentally. I would say I’ve enjoyed it as well though, it’s been a different experience.
“I’ve loved having to deal with these things, and learning how to get better off the back of that. And I’ll certainly be better for it, I’ve no doubt of that.
“I know this happens to a lot of players. And even Henry Slade is a recent example with us – he didn’t go to the World Cup but he played every game in the Six Nations.
“It can turn around very quickly, and for me, it’s reacting positively, reacting well, still not letting that affect my rugby.
“I still want to enjoy it and that’s the most important thing, enjoying my rugby.”
Steward might be having to bide his time in terms of forcing his way back into England’s lineup, but the Tigers star has kept his confidence high through hard work on the training field.
And the astute operator insists he has found a way to measure his own progress that also happily ignores inflated or overtly flattering outside opinion.
“When you first step up to this level, it’s common that everyone wants to blow smoke up your a**e and tell you you’re the best thing ever,” he laughs.
“You have to understand suddenly there’s an expectation, from everyone else not from yourself, that you have to keep on this incline. Which is difficult to do.
“I feel like physically I’ve developed massively over the last year. Yes, I’ve not probably played the best rugby of my career, but physically I feel in a great place.
“It’s being satisfied with that development for myself, not for what everyone else will tell you. It’s having that assurance for myself.”
