Mike Brown, who was England’s stalwart fullback for many years, shares his insights on the two current contenders for the coveted No. 15 jersey.
He gave his take on Freddie Steward’s recent exclusion, and George Furbank, who impressed with his stellar performance in Dunedin last weekend.
Speaking to Rugby Dump, Brown began: “No one thought Freddie Steward would be changed, he was kind of the immovable object, the guaranteed starter at 15. For whatever reason all the coaches saw something they wanted differently from Furbank, and he came in.
“Again he’s [Furbank] been through adversity, he didn’t have the best of starts with England but he’s worked on his game and has played amazingly for Saints this season.“
Brown added: “Freddie is a world-class operator in his own right. Freddie just has to go through this little dip in his career and keep quietly grinding, keep sticking in there, and keep working hard on his game.
“Hopefully at Leicester, we can have a better season which will help him in his England aspirations. I wanna see him, as a teammate and as a friend, getting back into the English team.”
“I like Furbank, I think he’s an excellent player, and I love what he’s done with Saints, it’s great to watch his brilliant running with the ball, but I’ve always got to stand by my teammate. Also, I like those traditional fullbacks as he’s [Steward] brilliant under the highball and good at the basics first of all, so if he can get those other layers of his game added on, I can’t see why he won’t get an opportunity again.“
He added: “But like I said what great riches and talents Steve has got just at fullback because in a few year’s time, when we get to the end of this cycle, to win a World Cup we need different players for different things.”
Louis Rees-Zammit’s dating history includes Premier League legends daughter and famous YouTuber
Six months have passed since Louis Rees-Zammit swapped the rugby pitch for the gridiron, chasing his NFL dream with the Kansas City Chiefs. The journey has been nothing short of exhilarating for the Welsh sensation.
After an intensive 10-week training program, Rees-Zammit signed with the Chiefs and is now eyeing a spot on the final 53-man roster. His rise in the sporting world has been meteoric, capturing the attention of fans and media alike.
But it’s not just his professional life making headlines. Rees-Zammit’s personal life has also been a hot topic, featuring relationships with high-profile personalities, from a Premier League legend’s daughter to a famous YouTuber and a notable model/DJ.
Alicia Scholes
In December 2019, before his international debut for Wales, Rees-Zammit posted a photo of himself playing for Gloucester. Alicia Scholes, daughter of football legend Paul Scholes, humorously suggested an England debut was imminent, despite Rees-Zammit’s Welsh roots. He firmly replied, “Wales*”.
In a BBC interview, Rees-Zammit spoke about his past relationship with Alicia, a professional netball player for London Pulse. He revealed the light-hearted attempts by her father to sway him towards England, which he steadfastly resisted.
Alicia and her father Paul found themselves in the spotlight in 2021 due to a viral video that led to playful banter among rival supporters.