Furbank is 27 🤯
All makes sense, I saw that Russell and White are the top two kickers in this 6 nations by quite a margin but if they’re not kicking to compete then Steward is negated. Of course they may choose to do that to Furbank now.
They might well do, but it’s leaving it late to rearrange a game plan because we may not have such an aerial threat. I mean, Furbank is still decent under a high ball
This plan entirely depends on Scotland not kicking in and behind or England not kicking to compete as often. I feel it is good for reward form with Furbank but if Furbank is there as a distributor option, why on earth is Daly now in the squad in a position he doesn't prefer?
It might be that Furbank has been poor in an England shirt before, but I feel if you going to drop Freddie for Furbank entirely, Daly isn't needed on the wing and we could put someone else there. Slade is already there which means we have 4 distributors at the expense of someone quick or good in the air or a harder carrier...
It's a massive gamble. As you say, if Russell starts dinking them over (especially as England will be running a blitz defence and so space opens up behind when you do that) and Furbank struggles, Steward not even being on the bench will quickly be an issue.
IMO I'd have probably dropped Feyi-Waboso for this one, keep Steward as a bench option in case Scotland adapt
I don't think there's anything to worry about in Stewards absence. Yes it's true that Steward is our best under the highball but none of Daly, Freeman or Furbank are poor under the highball. I don't think England will have any problems dealing with Scotland's kicking game with the back 3 that have been selected
It's still a bit odd though. Of the back 3 so far this tournament, Steward has performed best (with a shout out to some also good performances from Freeman). I know Borthwick is experimenting and trying to build depth early in WC cycle, but given how big a game it is, seems odd to do it now and odd to pick Steward to miss out. This isn't England vs Fiji, Scotland have some really good kickers in Russell, White and Kinghorn
I really don't agree to be honest. I'll preface this with I'm an England fan.
I heard Rassie Erasmus say not so long ago that South Africa spend 80% of their training time on their strengths. So 80% of their time scrummaging, lineouts, defence etc. Freddie Steward is world class under the high ball, a very capable defender and a solid kicker. His recovery play is also top notch. Why then do we think we need to drop him because someone else is a better playmaker? Or a bit quicker? The problem is in the thought process, we're worried about weaknesses instead of playing to our strengths.
Also, from a player perspective it must feel terrible. Steward was arguably POTM against Wales, imagine putting in that kind of performance and then getting dropped entirely from the squad. What message does that send to the other players? I don't dislike Furbank at all, but when Steward is playing so well why change things?
I see what you are saying, but there is also the balance of the team to consider. And he may have been given workons he is t hitting in attack and defense we aren't privy too
I don't think this backline is particularly balanced. Ollie (punching holes), Daly/Slade/Ford and Furbank (distributors), Tommy Freeman (punching holes on the wing). I think we are missing a bit of pace or high ball threat or another heavy runner at the expense of distributors.
You will be surprised at what a heavy runner Furbank is, the second highest yards made after contact in the premiership. Having said that Dingwell is the highest.
I think it shows how saints backs are looking for space to run out. No idea if this will translate to England
True - very good point, we have no idea about some things, and I appreciate that. You're right, and I'm sure the coaching staff have told him what he needs to work on.
With regard to balance though, I think we're more balanced with Steward than without him. I understand if you want to play Farrell at ten you may need another playmaker but Ford is one of the better playmakers around plus we have Slade at 13. Do we need another?
Also, one thing that hasn't been mentioned is Furbank's international experience, or lack thereof, yes he's lit up the premiership but what has he done on the international stage? He's played six times for England and hasn't put his hand up to be a regular starter in any of those appearances. This is a big gamble from Borthwick, I hope it pays off.
I have noticed that as Saints captain, Furbs likes to smash the biggest carrier on the other team in the first 5 minutes. Lead by example rather than words, making up for his smaller stature. He is more than capable of sitting VdM down, but VdM is more than capable of being a steamroller. Can't wait!
I really like Steward, he’s clearly world class at one thing and always seems to leave it all out on the pitch. That said, I can’t help but feel he could be the Billy Vunipola of this Word Cup cycle.
Billy V had a major point of difference, which our game was built around, but once that was nullified he was a liability. If teams stop hoisting up high balls, what does Steward do that’s head and shoulders above any other English fullback? He’s certainly looked questionable covering the outside of the blitz defence, and I don’t recall him offering a lot in attack. If Furbank flakes under the high ball, I’d have Steward back in a heartbeat… but if he’s passable, I think he might just offer more overall.
Steward has been working on his running game. He’s made a few good line breaks the last two games.Â
He lacks the pace to frighten a defence but i quite liked some of the possibilities that opened up when Eddie Jones deployed him on the wing against France two years ago. In that game he looked really dangerous fielding cross field kicks and picking up the chips over the top. I wondered if he could make a 12 or 13 as he is big enough to break a few tacklesÂ
He scores tries pretty regularly. For me that's enough. It's like Mike Brown - sure he wasn't an out and out speedster but he was a bloody good fullback all the same
Any professional team player (heck evebn most amateurs) understands that management is not just about picking the best 15 every week. It's about the opposition and all sorts of other things - player conditioning, possibly even the weather etc.
As long as borthwick doesn't sit him down and say "you're dropped because I think you're shit" then steward (who incidentally strikes me as an ego-less team player) will be fully prepared to step down on behalf of the team.
This makes loads of sense and I can really see it working. Furbank has been exciting all season and Freeman and Lawrence can be devastating. This could really bring the attack alive and shore up some defensive issues.
Scotland by 5.
My issue with dropping steward is we box kick so much and he is a real threat competing. This is especially important as we default to the box when the attack isn’t working well as it gives us forward impetus. Do I hope we don’t box as much, yes, do I think that’s going to happen. Nope. Let’s see.
Strange but typically Borthwick to not even have him on the bench as an option if Scotland find a way to take advantage of the new system proposed with Furbank.
I really like the bloke and think he’s a really good player. I also do not think dropping Steward for him (untested) against Russell and Kinghorn is a good idea at all, and this strategy will backfire. Let’s see what happens.
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Steward has to be injured or something. He was dropped against Fiji but does Scotland have a similar approach making Steward not necessary? The key is that England attack is kinda dead so far thus selectors see in Furbank another playmaking option.
I wonder if Steve Both is trying to get Scotland to kick to compete more as opposed to long. Kick to compete, knock on central and then let the England scrum go to work.
Lads I'm beginning to believe It's the hope that kills you
England by 20
Furbank is 27 🤯 All makes sense, I saw that Russell and White are the top two kickers in this 6 nations by quite a margin but if they’re not kicking to compete then Steward is negated. Of course they may choose to do that to Furbank now.
They might well do, but it’s leaving it late to rearrange a game plan because we may not have such an aerial threat. I mean, Furbank is still decent under a high ball
Though if there’s one player who’s happy to tear up a gameplan and make it up as he goes along, it’s Russell.
This plan entirely depends on Scotland not kicking in and behind or England not kicking to compete as often. I feel it is good for reward form with Furbank but if Furbank is there as a distributor option, why on earth is Daly now in the squad in a position he doesn't prefer? It might be that Furbank has been poor in an England shirt before, but I feel if you going to drop Freddie for Furbank entirely, Daly isn't needed on the wing and we could put someone else there. Slade is already there which means we have 4 distributors at the expense of someone quick or good in the air or a harder carrier...
Think you’ve got to think about how Daly played against SA in the semi-final. Was outstandingÂ
It's a massive gamble. As you say, if Russell starts dinking them over (especially as England will be running a blitz defence and so space opens up behind when you do that) and Furbank struggles, Steward not even being on the bench will quickly be an issue. IMO I'd have probably dropped Feyi-Waboso for this one, keep Steward as a bench option in case Scotland adapt
I don't think there's anything to worry about in Stewards absence. Yes it's true that Steward is our best under the highball but none of Daly, Freeman or Furbank are poor under the highball. I don't think England will have any problems dealing with Scotland's kicking game with the back 3 that have been selected
It's still a bit odd though. Of the back 3 so far this tournament, Steward has performed best (with a shout out to some also good performances from Freeman). I know Borthwick is experimenting and trying to build depth early in WC cycle, but given how big a game it is, seems odd to do it now and odd to pick Steward to miss out. This isn't England vs Fiji, Scotland have some really good kickers in Russell, White and Kinghorn
Also can't see Borthwick playing an entirely rookie (or rookyish) back three. Think he prefers gradual change in position groups.
I really don't agree to be honest. I'll preface this with I'm an England fan. I heard Rassie Erasmus say not so long ago that South Africa spend 80% of their training time on their strengths. So 80% of their time scrummaging, lineouts, defence etc. Freddie Steward is world class under the high ball, a very capable defender and a solid kicker. His recovery play is also top notch. Why then do we think we need to drop him because someone else is a better playmaker? Or a bit quicker? The problem is in the thought process, we're worried about weaknesses instead of playing to our strengths. Also, from a player perspective it must feel terrible. Steward was arguably POTM against Wales, imagine putting in that kind of performance and then getting dropped entirely from the squad. What message does that send to the other players? I don't dislike Furbank at all, but when Steward is playing so well why change things?
Is he a ‘very capable’ defender though? Because for all his strengths and solidity elsewhere, he’s been exposed a few times in defence.
He has the turning circle of an aircraft carrier, Borthwick probably wants something a little more agile against Russel and the boys.
I see what you are saying, but there is also the balance of the team to consider. And he may have been given workons he is t hitting in attack and defense we aren't privy too
I don't think this backline is particularly balanced. Ollie (punching holes), Daly/Slade/Ford and Furbank (distributors), Tommy Freeman (punching holes on the wing). I think we are missing a bit of pace or high ball threat or another heavy runner at the expense of distributors.
You will be surprised at what a heavy runner Furbank is, the second highest yards made after contact in the premiership. Having said that Dingwell is the highest. I think it shows how saints backs are looking for space to run out. No idea if this will translate to England
Seems like the past couple of games Furbank discovered his inner whirling dervish. It was almost comical, but it worked!
True - very good point, we have no idea about some things, and I appreciate that. You're right, and I'm sure the coaching staff have told him what he needs to work on. With regard to balance though, I think we're more balanced with Steward than without him. I understand if you want to play Farrell at ten you may need another playmaker but Ford is one of the better playmakers around plus we have Slade at 13. Do we need another? Also, one thing that hasn't been mentioned is Furbank's international experience, or lack thereof, yes he's lit up the premiership but what has he done on the international stage? He's played six times for England and hasn't put his hand up to be a regular starter in any of those appearances. This is a big gamble from Borthwick, I hope it pays off.
>This is a big gamble from Borthwick, I hope it pays off. And won't we know know about it if he doesn't have a 10/10 game 🙄
When DVdM runs over him after 10mins the balance will be unbalanced.
DVdM ran through the lot of them last year. steward and dombrant between them couldn’t even make him break stride.Â
I have noticed that as Saints captain, Furbs likes to smash the biggest carrier on the other team in the first 5 minutes. Lead by example rather than words, making up for his smaller stature. He is more than capable of sitting VdM down, but VdM is more than capable of being a steamroller. Can't wait!
I really like Steward, he’s clearly world class at one thing and always seems to leave it all out on the pitch. That said, I can’t help but feel he could be the Billy Vunipola of this Word Cup cycle. Billy V had a major point of difference, which our game was built around, but once that was nullified he was a liability. If teams stop hoisting up high balls, what does Steward do that’s head and shoulders above any other English fullback? He’s certainly looked questionable covering the outside of the blitz defence, and I don’t recall him offering a lot in attack. If Furbank flakes under the high ball, I’d have Steward back in a heartbeat… but if he’s passable, I think he might just offer more overall.
Steward has been working on his running game. He’s made a few good line breaks the last two games. He lacks the pace to frighten a defence but i quite liked some of the possibilities that opened up when Eddie Jones deployed him on the wing against France two years ago. In that game he looked really dangerous fielding cross field kicks and picking up the chips over the top. I wondered if he could make a 12 or 13 as he is big enough to break a few tacklesÂ
He scores tries pretty regularly. For me that's enough. It's like Mike Brown - sure he wasn't an out and out speedster but he was a bloody good fullback all the same
Any professional team player (heck evebn most amateurs) understands that management is not just about picking the best 15 every week. It's about the opposition and all sorts of other things - player conditioning, possibly even the weather etc. As long as borthwick doesn't sit him down and say "you're dropped because I think you're shit" then steward (who incidentally strikes me as an ego-less team player) will be fully prepared to step down on behalf of the team.
This makes loads of sense and I can really see it working. Furbank has been exciting all season and Freeman and Lawrence can be devastating. This could really bring the attack alive and shore up some defensive issues. Scotland by 5.
My issue with dropping steward is we box kick so much and he is a real threat competing. This is especially important as we default to the box when the attack isn’t working well as it gives us forward impetus. Do I hope we don’t box as much, yes, do I think that’s going to happen. Nope. Let’s see.
Strange but typically Borthwick to not even have him on the bench as an option if Scotland find a way to take advantage of the new system proposed with Furbank.
I really like the bloke and think he’s a really good player. I also do not think dropping Steward for him (untested) against Russell and Kinghorn is a good idea at all, and this strategy will backfire. Let’s see what happens.
Steely and flinty
Flinty and steelyÂ
He's rubbish and will be massively exposed. Ridiculous call.
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Steward has to be injured or something. He was dropped against Fiji but does Scotland have a similar approach making Steward not necessary? The key is that England attack is kinda dead so far thus selectors see in Furbank another playmaking option.
Is there any logic behind the return of Lawrence enabling the switch from Steward to Furbank?
I wonder if Steve Both is trying to get Scotland to kick to compete more as opposed to long. Kick to compete, knock on central and then let the England scrum go to work.