Steward's aerial skills can power England on

FREDDIE Steward has had a big impact for England at full-back since he made his debut against the USA in the summer of 2021. Steward has made his physical size and strength count to the extent that two years later he has scored seven tries in 22 Tests, which is not a bad strike rate.

- JEREMY GUSCOTT

He has also established himself as one of the best high-ball catchers in the game, and has been a point of difference for England during a time in which the team has struggled.

When a team is not going well it is not often that a full-back manages to shine, but if they take every high-ball, and tackle everything that moves, as well as come into the line in attack to create or finish try scoring chances, then they can buck the trend.

In a way, full-back has always been an ‘it is what you make it’ position, and although there have not been the same number of superstar No.15s as there have been fly-halves, there have still been quite a few who have set the game alight with their brilliant skills and running ability.

I’m thinking in terms of New Zealand’s John Gallagher, France’s Serge Blanco, Australia’s David Campese, and South Africa’s François Joubert during my playing days, and then later on Australia’s Matt Burke, New Zealand’s Jeff Wilson and Christian Cullen, England’s Jason Robinson, South Africa’s Percy Montgomery and Willie Le Roux, and New Zealand’s Ben Smith.

The last two full-backs who have been right up there are Israel Folau, the hugely talented former Wallaby who will be playing for Tonga in the World Cup, and Leigh Halfpenny, who had a very big impact for Wales as a shortish 15 because he had the solidity, pace, positional sense, and goal-kicking to be hugely influential.