Freddie Steward has praised the Six Nations’ decision to introduce 20-minute red cards in this season’s championship, hailing it as “good for the game”. The England full-back was shown a red card against Ireland in Dublin two years ago which was subsequently rescinded and he believes the game’s increasingly fine margins makes the new initiative a fairer solution.
Under the new approach, England would now be able to replace Steward with another player after 20 minutes rather than having to play the rest of the match at a numerical disadvantage. “The bunker stuff is really good,” insisted Steward. “It has such a significant impact on Test matches, as you saw in that game. It needs to be the right decision because it shapes campaigns for teams. You can lose games on a decision. It really kills you. I am glad they have taken strides to get it right.”
after newsletter promotion
Steward also thinks the initiative potentially gives supporters of both teams better value for money. “You have seen red cards ruin Test matches,” he said. “You can almost hear the groans of fans of the team who still have 15 on the field because they want a proper contest.”
After the 2023 incident, when Steward was dismissed following a collision with Hugo Keenan, a disciplinary committee concluded the full-back should only have received a yellow card. Ireland, who were leading 10-6 at the time, went on to seal a 29-16 win. This time around Steward is hoping for a happier experience should he get the nod to start at full-back. The 24-year-old was dropped last season and told to improve aspects of his game by the head coach Steve Borthwick, but his aerial ‘super strength’ is now back in vogue following the lawmakers’ clampdown on ‘escort’ runners trying to block chasers from reclaiming high balls.
Steward, accordingly, has been studying Australian Rules football to further enhance his technique and help him to defuse any ‘bombs’ that are hoisted his way. “A lot of the focus now is on how you can dominate the contest itself and create space. I’ve been studying a lot of AFL footage with the coaches at Leicester, looking at the way those guys use their knees to propel them to a higher level and win that collision,” he said.
“It’s difficult with these new laws. It’s not often now you see clean catching and players coming down with the ball. You can get exposed very easily. The decision-making in those split seconds has to be so good. You’ve got to come in with speed now because if you get stuck under the ball you can’t generate the height and momentum to knock back the guy coming forward. It’s a proper contest which is good.”
