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England hint at a tactic that doesn't involve Steward at 14 or 15
By Liam Heagney
England attack coach Martin Gleeson hasn’t dismissed the idea of Freddie Steward being used as a first receiver outside Marcus Smith at set-piece in an effort to fire up the creativity of a team that has struggled for tries in this year’s Guinness Six Nations. Eddie Jones’ side is in Paris ahead of their round five match this Saturday knowing their championship attack has so far been blunt.
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Just a single try was scored in each of the matches versus Scotland and Wales while they were held tryless last weekend by Ireland in a 15-32 Twickenham defeat. That loss has been followed by the selection of an XV showing five changes – including the first-time selection of regular full-back Freddie Steward on the England wing to accommodate George Furbank for his first start in the No15 shirt since October 2020.
It’s all a bit cloak and dagger, especially coming up against the notorious French defence coach Shaun Edwards who has enjoyed nothing better over the years than shutting down the England attack when working with Wales and lately with France.
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So what might England have up their sleeve other than a handkerchief as they look to attack the Grand Slam-chasing France? It was put to attack coach Martin Gleeson on Friday whether the potential existed for Steward to now lineup as the first receiver at inside centre outside Smith straight from set-piece.
“He could be,” quipped Gleeson. Is that something run in training or used in practice with him? “I’m not too sure but he is a big fella so he will attract some defenders if he does get in that position.”
Gleeson went on to give his take on a reshuffled England back three where Steward has been switched to the right wing after nine straight starts at full-back to allow the inclusion of Furbank at No15. “Tactically the way France kick is a lot longer so there is not that much competition in the air.
“We feel adding George in can open up a few avenues for us and having Freddie on the wing opens up a couple of different things as well. It’s a tactical decision based on how we want to play against France,” continued the assistant, who sounded like he has enthusiastically embraced the challenge of trying to unlock the Edwards French defence.
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“Unbelievable. He has transformed them, hasn’t he? He is simplistic in his message and he gets the buy-in, the lads respect him 100 per cent and they will go to the trenches for him. That is what his appeal is as a coach and no matter where he goes he seems to have success, so I have got nothing but the utmost respect for him as a bloke and as a coach.
“It is very notoriously hard to break his defence down. We have got a few things in place that we are looking at to try and expose that. We feel there are a couple of chinks in their armour and a mixture of backs and forwards will be trying to do that on Saturday.”
