Freddie Steward backs decision to introduce 20-minute red cards in Six Nations

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 The England full-back was shown a red card against Ireland in Dublin two years ago which was subsequently rescinded and he believes the game’s increasingly fine margins makes the new initiative a fairer solution.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.”

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.”

Furlong blow for Ireland

Ireland have been dealt a significant blow before Saturday’s clash with the tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong ruled out with a calf injury. The veteran front-rower has flown home from Ireland’s training base in Portugal and will undergo further assessment in Dublin but is not available for his side’s opening match of the tournament against England.

Furlong missed all four of Ireland’s November Tests and while the 32-year-old had hoped to return to international action against England, he has suffered a recurrence of a calf injury in training. In his absence, Finlay Bealham is likely to occupy the No 3 jersey against Steve Borthwick’s side.

In better news for the two-times defending champions, the winger James Lowe and the hooker Dan Sheehan joined the squad in Portugal on Sunday. Lowe made his first appearance for Leinster against the Stormers on Saturday while Sheehan captained the province in his first appearance of the season and both came through unscathed, handing Ireland’s stand-in head coach Simon Easterby a boost.