Tommy Freeman welcomes midfield switch as England’s wingers set the pace

Tommy Freeman has welcomed his move into midfield because he claims he can’t keep up with England‘s current crop of fast men who are burning up the turf.

The Northampton Saints man is now regarded more as an outside centre than a wing by head coach Steve Borthwick and started there against Wales yesterday with Henry Arundell and Tom Roebuck on the flanks after Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was ruled out with a leg injury.

Arundell and Feyi-Waboso are among the quickest ever fielded by England, but Freeman says Arundell is not now just about the gas since his move back to the Prem, with Bath, from Racing 92.

And Freeman, 24, revealed he has no interest in getting involved in a sprint-off with either of them any time soon.

Rapid: Henry Arundell

Self-aware

And Freeman, 24, revealed he has no interest in getting involved in a sprint-off with either of them any time soon.

Freeman said: “I think attributes-wise, Henry’s speed and power are ridiculous. I thought I was quick, relatively, but Manny (Feyi-Waboso) and him are properly rapid.

“We go on about supporting on the inside a lot but you’re about 10 metres behind these guys.

“It’s genius I’ve come to the middle now because having the pace to be a winger is tough. But these guys have got massive amounts of strength and Henry loves that running game, that attacking threat but his physical side defensively has improved through the roof.

Quick(ish): Tommy Freeman scores England’s seventh try yesterday
PICTURE: Getty Images

English speed

“His competing in the air, how he can bring his explosiveness, he’s very powerful and can jump pretty high.

“He’s been using that strength and getting a lot of balls back for us. I think his all-round game has improved massively.

“Henry is the quickest player in the Prem. Him and Louis Rees-Zammit would be a good race; Rees-Zammit has probably got the range over 100 metres, but Henry might have burned him over the first 20.

“Pollock would not be far off as well, I am telling you. I wouldn’t want to be involved. I definitely wouldn’t want to race even Pollock.”

From top to bottom: Manny Feyi-Waboso, Henry Pollock and Louis Rees-Zammit

Penaud not done

After Northampton’s recent Champions Cup game against Bordeaux-Begles, the Saints team were joined by Damian Penaud, below, on a night out – shortly before the wing was axed by French boss Fabien Galthie.

During the game, Pollock embarrassed Penaud by beating him to the ball, chipping him, then leaving the French defence for dead for a spectacular try.

But Freeman believes that is not the last we have seen of Penaud at Test level.

He added: “Every situation is different and if you are asked to do something and you don’t deliver on it, then that’s not going to help your case.

Top lad

“Damien came out with us after the Bordeaux game because he is good friends with Anthony Belleau and I had a good chat with him, well as much as I could.

“He was a top lad and he was very much looking forward to the Six Nations. He’s a great guy.

“But the coach has got something in their head, and whatever that looks like, you have to perform to what they are asking.

“And if you don’t, then I guess it is as simple as that. No doubt he will find his way back into the team at some point.”