LEICESTER'S Freddie Steward spent yesterday afternoon with his feet up watching the player he models his biggest skill on as he prepared to take another step on the international path.
Full-back Steward, in camp with England A ahead of today's match with Scotland A at Welford Road was watching the British & Irish Lions game with Japan followed by the Premiership final.
One of the 20-year-old's points of difference is his skill under the high ball, being 6ft 5in helps, and Dan Biggar, below right, a master in the air, was on show for the Lions in Edinburgh.
Steward, a former U20 international, has studied the Welshman's technique under the bombs and was taking another lesson as he chilled out before the Scottish match. He also reflected on another step in the right direction with a warning from Eddie Jones ringing in his ears.
“The man who has really nailed the skill down is Dan Biggar,” said Steward. “He is one of the best at kicking the ball up and getting it back – those up and unders, he has really set the mark. He is definitely someone I have looked at and analysed and tried to replicate.
“With Leicester it has been identified as a strength and the coaches there, Steve Borthwick and Matt Smith, have been brilliant at nurturing that skill and making sure it is something that is going to help me in games like this.
“Eddie has been brilliant. The key stat with him was that young lads coming through wear a Test jersey for an average of seven Tests so he is trying to get the best out of us. We need to be the lads that put our hands up and try and hold onto that jersey for as long as we can.
“The biggest thing between U20s and the Premiership is the physicality. Obviously with the U20s everybody is a similar age so you don't get the big burly men. The physicality is a massive step up and the speed of the game. It is just a second quicker, which is brilliant, I love playing at that speed.”
Steward has got his chance after a string of impressive performances for Leicester under Borthwick's regime as Tigers attempt to get back to the glory days.
Steward was an eightyear-old boy when he first went to Welford Road and is relishing the chance to perform at his home stadium in front of parents, Ben and Jane, and a large group of other relatives among the expected 4,000 crowd.
“As soon as the news came that the game was going to be at Welford Road it was even more special for me to try and get selected,” he added. “I supported Tigers as a kid and that is what makes it even more special to pull on an England shirt at my home stadium.
“My mum and dad will be there, both my brothers and my grandparents and some of my friends – most of Norfolk.
“Since Steve (Borthwick) has come in he has brought everyone together. That is his big thing, making sure that we are all on the same page.
He has instilled a DNA similar to the old Tigers. Just being brutal and being dominant and trying to bully teams. He has got the best out of us so far and hopefully in the seasons to come we can get even better.
“The club has a really rich history and we need to respect that.
“It is about getting elements of that and adding them to our new philosophy and our new game plan and trying to get the best out of both.”
