Preview: Tigers will fight to the death for Borthwick

FREDDIE Steward‘s burgeoning reputation faces its latest test today as Leicester’s young full-back prepares for another high-ball bombardment from Newcastle.

Steward, 20, has been a revelation since breaking into the side last season following Telusa Veainu’s move to Stade Francais.

Steward, who at 6ft 5ins (1.95m) cuts an imposing figure reminiscent of New Zealand‘s Jordie Barrett, is now being spoken of as an England prospect after a whirlwind start to his Premiership education.

Steward, who gained his first real opportunity in back-to-back European matches against Calvisano in December 2019, said: “The last 16 months has gone so quickly and to get all the game time I’ve had has been very exciting.

“I’ve tried to learn as much as possible and the experience I’ve gained in the Premiership has been massive. The aim is just to keep being consistent, keep improving and, hopefully, stay in and around the starting XV.”

After excelling under the high ball at Exeter last week, Steward adds: “The way the game’s going there’s a lot more kicking, and a lot more contestable kicks as well, so that’s been a part of my game I’ve been able to showcase and it’s been going well.

“It’s now about ruling out the little errors that can creep into your game. For example, I dropped a ball against Gloucester recently that I should have taken so it’s about being even stronger there.

“My running game is getting there, too, and I’ve been working very hard in the gym, trying to add that speed and explosiveness into my game. That’s definitely improved so it’s just about building on that now and starting to break the opposition’s line a bit more.

“I’ve got better at beating the first defender and it’s now about beating the second and the third, but it’s exciting to have that potential, I just need to keep working hard.”

Fourteen-man Tigers fell to a 47-31 defeat at Exeter but emerged with immense credit after scoring five tries and staying in the contest until late on disappointed with the way we started and going down to 14-men so early, discipline was all over the place.

“But the fight we showed in the second half, the Leicester side of two seasons ago probably would have folded but this side, with Steve (Borthwick) in charge, has some steel about it. We keep fighting until the final whistle.”

With both Leicester and Newcastle just outside the top six, a win today will see chances of Champions Cup qualification given a serious boost.

“Newcastle surprised a few people this season and are going well,” Steward says. “They work hard and will be a tough side to beat, but for us it’s about working even harder and we’ll be giving it 100 per cent effort, which hopefully will be enough to get the win.

With the Challenge Cup to look forward to as well as a potential late season surge towards the playoffs, Steward could do his England ambitions no harm.

He added: “It’s all about staying level-headed and if you perform to the best you can here, other stuff will take care of itself. I’m just concentrating on trying to play well.”

■ By NEALE HARVEY