Tigers v Bristol (H) - Premiership - Saturday 27th April 2024 - KO: 15-00

[kk20gb30]

My view and my view alone......
Disagree entirely with those who would move Steward anywhere - perhaps in the future another position may be preferable to all concerned but as of now how about keeping it simple ....

We are fortunate enough to have a World Class Fullback playing for us in Steward.
Why move him ?
Who are we going to bring in who is his equal or better ?
The cost of such an acquisition ?
Fullback is a specialist position - we have a specialist.... (just as Mike Brown was in his pomp)

Opponents may stop kicking to him because of his ability in the air , but that may perhaps negate their game plan also because like or not the high ball is part and parcel of the modern game and is utilised by the majority as a matter of course.

Rugby is a simple game ...play your best players in their best positions when possible - don't overthink....

Neither offense nor argument intended.

[fentiger]

My view and my view alone......
Disagree entirely with those who would move Steward anywhere - perhaps in the future another position may be preferable to all concerned but as of now how about keeping it simple ....

We are fortunate enough to have a World Class Fullback playing for us in Steward.
Why move him ?
Who are we going to bring in who is his equal or better ?
The cost of such an acquisition ?
Fullback is a specialist position - we have a specialist.... (just as Mike Brown was in his pomp)

Opponents may stop kicking to him because of his ability in the air , but that may perhaps negate their game plan also because like or not the high ball is part and parcel of the modern game and is utilised by the majority as a matter of course.

Rugby is a simple game ...play your best players in their best positions when possible - don't overthink....

Neither offense nor argument intended.

Agree 100%, indeed if the opposition stops kicking to him then that allows him to come into the line (which he does) it will lead to him improving the running aspect of his game too. This will enable another game plan which with a decent attack coach we ought to be able to exploit!

[watsonjm]

It's been done to death, but I think Steward's ceiling is higher at centre. He is on the slow side for an international fullback and doesn't have the playmaking skills of many modern 15s. Fullback at the top level is increasingly the domain of players with the kicking and distribution skills of a fly-half.

Freddie's greatest asset is of course his aerial work but sides are increasingly not kicking to compete on him. Which is unavoidably a simple way to negate that strength.

His next biggest strength is in contact due to his size. Fullback is probably the worst position in the backs to utilise that after SH and FH though.

At centre I think he could be excellent at getting over the gain line and making yards after contact - which is one of the most valuable skills in rugby. I think his size would be more of an asset defensively in the main d-line than in the back three where he can be caught flat footed whilst changing direction. Whilst you can still take advantage of his aerial work from centre but do it on your own terms by using Steward to competing attacking kicks rather than waiting to defend kicks that increasingly aren't booted his way.

He's a very good fullback but I feel he could be a significantly better centre longer term.

This! 100% agree. Given how the season has gone I think it well worth a go

[Tiglon]

How much time does it take in training to learn all the positional aspects of playing 12 rather than 15?

I'm all for trying things out, but I'm not sure it's as simple as just whacking a 12 on his back and hoping for the best.

Big gamble, for both him and the club.

[TigerFeetSteve]

How much time does it take in training to learn all the positional aspects of playing 12 rather than 15?

I'm all for trying things out, but I'm not sure it's as simple as just whacking a 12 on his back and hoping for the best.

Big gamble, for both him and the club.

I spent the majority of my playing career at wing or fullback, dreaded playing centres. I was used to dropping back for kicks etc. Was hard trying to remember to line up in a defensive line, not track the ball and line up deep.

[INTHESINBIN]

I strongly believe that we should judge the performance of our backs once an effective attack coach is in action. I agree, some players are looking defeated, and I do not believe that is a reflection on their skill set or talent, but perhaps a lack of guidance. I am hopeful that the formation of our backs will soon be clear once they have the right management. Lets not write off any players as a result of the last game but think about the improvements we shall see once they employ a good attack coach.

We have numerous players in the squad who have shown a liking to an attacking style of rugby (OHC, Shilcock, Pollard, Phil C), but are not being able to play in this way which can only be dampening their play style and their love for the game.

[Pellsey]

I strongly believe that we should judge the performance of our backs once an effective attack coach is in action. I agree, some players are looking defeated, and I do not believe that is a reflection on their skill set or talent, but perhaps a lack of guidance. I am hopeful that the formation of our backs will soon be clear once they have the right management. Lets not write off any players as a result of the last game but think about the improvements we shall see once they employ a good attack coach.

We have numerous players in the squad who have shown a liking to an attacking style of rugby (OHC, Shilcock, Pollard, Phil C), but are not being able to play in this way which can only be dampening their play style and their love for the game.

100% agree to everything here!

[Jock1]

100% spot on!

[OakhamTiger32]

Kata gets a 3 game ban so unavailable as expected. Reduces to 2 if he applies to undertake a World Rugby coaching intervention course

[fortysix]

Unfortunately--------------Steward wont be considered at Full Back for England unless he radically improves his speed and directional running. Plus his defence isnt that great

Neither are Hodge or Carpenter, the nos 2 and 3, but, they can catch and are miles quicker

Furbank has improved in leaps and bounds, and as he proved last week, his defence is solid.
The only option, and I have been watching the Tigers for 70 years, is for Steward to transfer to centre, where he would make a great indent.

20 years ago I spoke to a member of the staff about moving Tom Youngs from centre to hooker...

[DeadlyDunc]

Unfortunately--------------Steward wont be considered at Full Back for England unless he radically improves his speed and directional running. Plus his defence isnt that great

Neither are Hodge or Carpenter, the nos 2 and 3, but, they can catch and are miles quicker

Furbank has improved in leaps and bounds, and as he proved last week, his defence is solid.
The only option, and I have been watching the Tigers for 70 years, is for Steward to transfer to centre, where he would make a great indent.

20 years ago I spoke to a member of the staff about moving Tom Youngs from centre to hooker...

Which was nice

[Tiglon]

Unfortunately--------------Steward wont be considered at Full Back for England unless he radically improves his speed and directional running. Plus his defence isnt that great

Neither are Hodge or Carpenter, the nos 2 and 3, but, they can catch and are miles quicker

Furbank has improved in leaps and bounds, and as he proved last week, his defence is solid.
The only option, and I have been watching the Tigers for 70 years, is for Steward to transfer to centre, where he would make a great indent.

20 years ago I spoke to a member of the staff about moving Tom Youngs from centre to hooker...

Surely, then, you have already wielded your mighty influence and instructed McKellar to move Steward to centre?

Joking aside, there's a big difference between the Tom Youngs and Steward situations. Youngs was struggling to break into the Tigers team, so he had little to lose, and was able to spend a year or two on loan to Bedford learning his new position. Steward is already one of the first names on the Tigers team sheet and an established international - he has no need to switch positions, and everything to lose if he tries and fails.

[TigerFeetSteve]

Unfortunately--------------Steward wont be considered at Full Back for England unless he radically improves his speed and directional running. Plus his defence isnt that great

I disagree with this.

Borthwick has shown time and time again he picks a side for the plan he has that day.
There are days when he'll want a Furbank distributor and days when he'll want a aerial master.

He will pick a team for his plan.

This 6N was about giving some of the other guys like Furbank the opportunity to get used to international rugby.

Borthwick picks a squad and that has different types of players for differing gameplans.

Sometimes Borthwick went Steward at 15, sometimes he went Henry/Burns/Hegarty and that wasn't just to give Steward a break

[AViewFromLe2]

Steward is a full-back, and also a handy winger when needed, which is now thanks to injuries. Freddie probably also wants to stay in the back 3 so moving him to centre probably hacks him off more than anything.

[Stephen18]

Unfortunately--------------Steward wont be considered at Full Back for England unless he radically improves his speed and directional running. Plus his defence isnt that great

Neither are Hodge or Carpenter, the nos 2 and 3, but, they can catch and are miles quicker

Furbank has improved in leaps and bounds, and as he proved last week, his defence is solid.
The only option, and I have been watching the Tigers for 70 years, is for Steward to transfer to centre, where he would make a great indent.

20 years ago I spoke to a member of the staff about moving Tom Youngs from centre to hooker...

100% he’ll play fullback for England again, he missed 2 games.
Listening to Borthwick on the good the bad the rugby podcast he talked about how he won’t really be changing his squad, as he wants them together for the next 3 years, and doesn’t want anyone worrying about losing their shirt. The only changes he says he’ll make are people retiring or if someone emerges as exceptional like feyi-waboso. And I can’t see him making the England team as a winger or a centre.