Latest news with #FreddieSteward
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Van Poortvliet relishing Tigers and Norfolk connection with old friend Steward
By Will Jennings in Washington DC Jack van Poortvliet is loving life on tour alongside old friend and Leicester Tigers teammate Freddie Steward. England take on the USA in Washington DC on Saturday night fresh off the back of a 2-0 series victory in Argentina. Norfolk-born star Van Poortvliet, 24, was the matchwinner in the second of those Tests as a dramatic last-gasp try extended England's current winning streak to six matches. Van Poortvliet and Steward, also 24 and from Norfolk, grew up playing rugby against each other and are both avid Norwich City fans away from the rugby field. The bubbly duo have recruited several Tigers teammates to attend East Midlands away days with them and Van Poortvliet, who will start at scrum-half in the American capital this weekend, has revelled in the last few weeks alongside Steward and the rest of the squad. 'I've loved it – it's my first time in America, so we've done lots of historical bits and museums, which were great and very cool,' said Steward, who met many members of the Norwich squad when they went to watch Tigers train two years ago. 'Argentina was great – I've never toured there before so it was amazing to explore different parts of it. 'It's always nice touring but to top it off with two really good wins was amazing. 'To have a new experience of exploring a new county, touring and winning away has made this one of my favourite rugby experiences of my life. 'Me and Fred used to play each other before then both going to Leicester aged 13. 'Norfolk is my home and always will be – I grew up on a family farm there, so as soon as I finish my rugby career I'm going to be going back to Norfolk and carrying on with the farming there. 'And I'm still a massive Norwich fan – I don't get back as much as I'd like so it's quite good living in Leicester because there's a lot of Championship football teams around there!' Borthwick's squad for the transatlantic trip has been diversely-assembled with many leading players away on The British & Irish Lions' tour to Australia. That has thrust Van Poortvliet, who has earned 20 England caps, into a newfound leadership role as many younger faces get their first taste of life on tour. He has relished that responsibility and reckons camaraderie away from the pitch – including daily viewing sessions of Love Island – has helped the group connect. 'I'm there if people need to ask questions, and I can share my experiences,' he added. 'If they want anything from me I can give that – rugby wise my role hasn't changed much but off the pitch, I've had a few more questions and probably been more of more help. 'The group have been amazing and such good fun – we've competed amazingly but enjoyed ourselves off the field as well. 'We started watching Love Island back in England – this season has been quite tasty so every night there's about 10 of us crammed into one room! 'I was one of the early pioneers for it – we watch in Fred's room as he's got a VPN. 'It's been great fun and very enjoyable.' The match against the USA Eagles will be streamed live on RugbyPassTV and England Rugby's YouTube channel.
Japan Today
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
Depleted England clinical against the Pumas in La Plata
England's Freddie Steward, center, is tackled by Argentina's Santiago Cordero during a rugby test match in La Plata, Argentina, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello) rugby union England without 13 British and Irish Lions stunned recent Lions conqueror Argentina 35-12 in test rugby on Saturday. Argentina beat the Lions 28-24 in Dublin two weeks ago for the first time and left most of the team intact for its first test at home this year. But Argentina's failure to score any points in a first half it dominated came back to bite it as England opened the new half by suddenly running the ball and scoring three tries in seven minutes. The Pumas rallied with two tries to forwards Pablo Matera — his 110th appearance tying Agustin Creevy's national caps record — and Pedro Rubiolo. But that's all England allowed in an impressive show of depth and ruthless efficiency. It even finished with a flourish. Replacement wing Cadan Murley scored the fourth try and co-captain George Ford, who became the eighth man to play 100 England tests, capped off a surprisingly emphatic win with 15 points and a try assist. 'It's a great win for us,' Ford told broadcaster Sky Sports. The Pumas arrived at halftime utterly frustrated. They were held up over the tryline three times and England flanker Sam Underhill was underneath two of them. England lock Alex Coles and new midfielder Seb Atkinson were yellow-carded. For at least four minutes, Argentina was playing against 13 men. But by the time Argentina was facing 15 again, England led 3-0 after a drop goal by Ford. England absorbed everything and turned a 3-0 halftime lead into 22-0 by the 50th minute. Sweeping backline moves that England kept under wraps in the first half sprouted two tries for wing Tom Roebuck and another for fullback Freddie Steward. 'The first five minutes of the second half we were very poor,' Pumas captain Julian Montoya told Sky Sports. 'We can't have those gaps where we concede very easy points.' The Pumas closed the gap to 10 going into the fourth quarter but England pinned them down and finished on a high, giving it confidence of sweeping the two-test series in San Juan next weekend. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Depleted England clinical against the Pumas in La Plata
Argentina's Pedro Rubiolo runs to score a try against England during a rugby test match in La Plata, Argentina, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello) England's Freddie Steward, center, is tackled by Argentina's Santiago Cordero during a rugby test match in La Plata, Argentina, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello) England's Freddie Steward, center, is tackled by Argentina's Santiago Cordero during a rugby test match in La Plata, Argentina, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello) Argentina's Pedro Rubiolo runs to score a try against England during a rugby test match in La Plata, Argentina, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello) England's Freddie Steward, center, is tackled by Argentina's Santiago Cordero during a rugby test match in La Plata, Argentina, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello) England without 13 British and Irish Lions stunned recent Lions conqueror Argentina 35-12 in test rugby on Saturday. Argentina beat the Lions 28-24 in Dublin two weeks ago for the first time and left most of the team intact for its first test at home this year. Advertisement But Argentina's failure to score any points in a first half it dominated came back to bite it as England opened the new half by suddenly running the ball and scoring three tries in seven minutes. The Pumas came back with two tries to forwards Pablo Matera — his 110th appearance tying Agustin Creevy's national caps record — and Pedro Rubiolo. But that's all England allowed in an impressive show of depth and ruthless efficiency. It even finished with a flourish. Replacement wing Cadan Murley scored the fourth try and co-captain George Ford, who became the eighth man to play 100 England tests, capped off a surprisingly emphatic win with 15 points and a try assist. ___ AP rugby:
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ford inspires England to fine win in Argentina
Argentina: (0) 12Tries: Matera, Rubiolo Cons: Carreras England: (3) 35Tries: Roebuck (2), Steward, Murley Cons: Ford (3) Pens: Ford (2) Drop-goal: Ford Clinical England produced a second-half masterclass to see off Argentina 35-12 in the first Test at Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi in La holding off the toothless Pumas for 40 minutes to lead by three points at the break, England then took charge, Sale's Tom Roebuck scoring twice and Freddie Steward of Leicester also finding a try in the space of nine hit back with two scores of their own but, marshalled by the superb George Ford on his 100th cap, England showed composure and defensive fortitude to keep their hosts in added two penalties to stretch England's lead before Harlequins wing Cadan Murley completed the job with a well-taken try five minutes from the end. At one stage in the first half, England were down to 13 men with Alex Coles and Seb Atkinson in the sin-bin, but held firm in the face of relentless Argentina was while Coles was off the field that Ford, who became the eighth male centurion for England, provided the half's only score with a drop the break, Steve Borthwick's side cut loose, Roebuck applying the finish to an excellent move, although Ford missed the conversion from the five minutes later, Ford turned provider to tee up Steward to touch down between the posts before another superb passing move opened the door for Roebuck to notch his shellshocked Pumas hit back through a try from Pablo Matera, whose 109th cap levelled the record for most appearances for his country, and another fine score from Bristol lock Pedro Rubiolo trimmed the gap to 10 was not enough, though, as Ford added two composed penalties from distance to put the game out of reach before Murley added the who beat the British and Irish Lions 28-24 in Dublin just two weeks ago and are one place above England at fifth in the world rankings, have plenty of questions to answer before the second Test in San Juan next to follow. Line-ups England: Steward; Roebuck, Slade, S Atkinson, Muir; Ford, Spencer; Baxter, George, Heyes, Ewels, Coles, B Curry, Underhill, Dan, Rodd, Opoku-Fordjour, Cunningham-South, Pepper, Dombrandt, Van Poortvliet, Elizalde; Isgro, Cinti, Piccardo, Cordero, Carreras, Bertranou; Vicas, Montoya, Delgado, Paulos, Rubiolo, Matera, Gonzalez, Bernasconi, Gallo, Marchetti, Grondona, Moro, Cruz, Roger, Angus Gardner (Aus)Assitant referees: Luc Ramos (Fra) and Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)TMO: Olly Hodges (Ire)
Telegraph
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Seb Atkinson and Will Muir to make England debuts in opening Test against Argentina
Freddie Steward has been recalled to the England line-up and will start alongside two debutants, Seb Atkinson and Will Muir, in the first Test against Argentina in La Plata this Saturday. Steward, who won only two caps for his country in the 2024-25 season – both losses, to South Africa and Ireland respectively – will start at full-back in an aerially astute back three with Bath's Muir and Tom Roebuck, of Sale. Steve Borthwick, the England head coach, has made five changes (see graphic below) to the starting XV who lost narrowly to France in an uncapped match at the Allianz Stadium last month, with Jamie George and George Ford continuing as co-captains. Ford will earn his 100th cap. Two of the five changes come in the back three, with Steward coming in for Joe Carpenter and Muir replacing the banned Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. The rest of the backline is unchanged, with Atkinson winning a first cap alongside veteran centre Henry Slade who, alongside Ben Spencer at scrum-half, will provide fly-half cover should Ford suffer an injury. The front row of Fin Baxter, George and Joe Heyes returns but Nick Isiekwe is replaced by Charlie Ewels behind them, partnering Alex Coles. Ben Curry starts at blindside after injury while Sam Underhill is recalled after his suspension for a dangerous tackle during Bath's Challenge Cup final victory over Lyon. Tom Willis reprises his role at No 8. Eight of the 10 Premiership clubs are represented across the match-day 23, while among the replacements Guy Pepper will win a first England cap should he come off the bench in La Plata. Borthwick has opted for a six-two split between forwards and backs with Chandler Cunningham-South, the Harlequins back-rower, once again covering lock, although Tom Willis also has experience in this area. Ted Hill, who started at blindside in the narrow loss to France XV, is excluded from the match-day 23 altogether. Argentina name their side for the first Test later on Thursday but, similarly to England missing 13 players on the Lions tour, Felipe Contepomi has chosen to rest some of his stars. Former Leicester captain Julián Montoya will lead the side but Rodrigo Isgró, Tomás Albornoz – the star of the Pumas win against the Lions in Dublin – Marcos Kremer, Juan Cruz Mallía and Santiago Chocobares, among others, are held back for the Rugby Championship later in the year. England, who have never lost a Test series to Argentina, face Los Pumas in La Plata on Saturday and again in San Juan a week later before travelling to Washington to take on the US on July 19. The Tests against Argentina will be live on Sky Sports before RugbyPass streams the clash with the Eagles. Analysis: Forgotten man Steward recalled for aerial battle with Argentina Freddie Steward has become somewhat of a forgotten man in English rugby. The 24-year-old was named at full-back in World Rugby's team of the year in November 2022, having won 31 England caps at that point, but since the 2023 World Cup Steward has won just five. Since rugby's global showpiece, Steve Borthwick, who knows Steward as well as anyone having coached him during his Premiership-winning stint at Leicester, has opted to use Steward as and when necessary. Where once the full-back might have been considered among the first names on the team sheet, Steward has been relegated to the role of bomb defusal expert, with his aerial expertise to be used only against teams with a propensity for high-ball torrents. Enter Argentina who, in their victory against the Lions in Dublin, had the number of the touring side in the skies. Wings Ignacio Mendy and Rodrigo Isgró – the latter of whom is rested for the two Tests against England – alongside the silky Santiago Carreras caused the Lions problems in the air on the back of Gonzalo García's accurate box-kicking (although the scrum-half is another of the rested Pumas). Joe Carpenter is no slouch aerially but it is telling that height and the ability to get off the ground is a common denominator across England's back three, with Will Muir preferred to Cadan Murley on the wing, despite the former being uncapped. Somewhat ironically, Muir gave Steward's Leicester a bit of a hard time in the air during Bath's Premiership final victory last month. Steward's inclusion is clearly part of a concerted England effort to dominate the aerial exchanges – especially with Ben Spencer, one of Europe's best kicking scrum-halves, starting – but, after this season, to brand the full-back as a one-trick pony would be reductive. With the Tigers, under Australian duo Michael Cheika and Peter Hewat, Steward has added strings to his bow. Some of his distribution in attack has been as sophisticated and skilful as it has been in his career to date; meanwhile, at 6ft 5in and over 100kg, he has started to chuck his weight around in the carry, too. Questions remain over his pace off the mark but his offering in other areas has improved significantly. Elsewhere, there are two further eyebrow-raisers: the dropping of Ted Hill and Max Ojomoh's exclusion. Henry Slade's inclusion in the match-day squad is as good as vital given Charlie Atkinson's lack of experience – Slade will act as fly-half cover – but it would have been a true statement of intent had Borthwick thrown more caution to the wind and started Ojomoh alongside Seb Atkinson in the midfield. Both offer dynamism and punch with the ball, but Ojomoh brings tang and timing in his distribution, too. Borthwick has preferred the experience of Slade over the temptation for an entirely uncapped centre pairing but, with Ford inside them and England as underdogs – in the words of the head coach – this might have been the perfect time to have a real crack at a Pumas midfield missing some of its leading lights. As for Hill, he was always unlikely to start given Borthwick has been able to call on his pair of beastly work-horses, Ben Curry and Sam Underhill, on the flanks. The Bath blindside was a little standoffish in the uncapped match against France – admittedly, England never used his pace in the best manner. His ability to cover lock, as he did in the Six Nations, makes his absence from the bench yet more curious. Borthwick believes England are underdogs. Certainly, winning without 13 of their best players in the Argentine bear-pits provides a stern challenge but with the Pumas also missing a few, this squad is easily capable of keeping England's Test series record intact.
