Freeman ready to roast the All Blacks
Tommy Freeman has one more box to tick before he packs his golf clubs for a well-earned break in Majorca at the end of his longest season ever.
As he hands over his golden retriever, Leo, to his parents the 23-year-old can reflect on a campaign which has seen him tick the box marked Premiership winner with Northampton.
He has also checked the box that said regain his England place and take more time playing at centre to add to his skills on the wing. Tick, tick and another tick.
The one tick missing is a Test win, or two, in New Zealand, starting with Saturday’s clash with the All Blacks in Dunedin ahead of the tour finale in Auckland on July 13.
Freeman, who got over the agony of being cut early for the World Cup, regained his England spot and started every game in the Six Nations plus the 52-17 win over Japan in Tokyo last weekend.
And through it all the 16-handicapper has been playing like a multiple major winner.
The first time the full England squad gathered post-Six Nations, Freeman entered their training base in Bagshot with a Premiership winners’ medal in his pocket as did the other six Saints he was there with.
Immediately they were sat down by head coach Steve Borthwick and his assistant Kevin Sinfield, a serial trophy winner rugby league, who told them how their Twickenham triumph could be useful for England.
Dashing Freeman has New Zealand in his sights
Freeman, 23, said: “Kev has been in that situation before of walking into camps and being winners and it is recognising being a winner and how you can impact the team. If we can come in and bring as much value to the other lads and be as upbeat as we can for what the challenge is next, is the main thing.
“The timing of celebrating for the lads who didn’t come into camp was probably longer but that is the way it is and you want to be playing for your country. The quick change in mindset and having that effect on other lads in camp was the main thing to do. It was quite effortless.
“To win a Premiership with the club you have put so much work into is pretty awesome. Then from a personal point of view I think I have developed my game and Saints have allowed me to do that, employed me in different positions and to take what I have done at Saints into an England shirt has been extra special.
“I think I have learned a lot by having that opportunity. I get more touches on ball at 13 and on the wing you understand that role inside you a bit more and the cues, which has helped me a lot. There are different defensive styles at Saints and England and adapting to those, and learning how to do both is pretty good.”
He added: “It has been the longest season I have ever been part of. The most games I have ever played. The highs of winning the Premiership and doing very well in Europe as a team, you forget about it and each week rolls into each other.”
Freeman grew up in awe of All Black superstars such as Israel Dagg and Conrad Smith, and next week he will get the chance to play against their successors. A first-time visitor to New Zealand, who got over a three-day chest infection to play in Japan, Freeman will get the opportunity to face up to the Kiwis famous pre-match challenge indoors at the Forsyth Barr Stadium next weekend.
“I have never played them before you instantly think of the haka when you are a kid growing up and think it is a cool thing,” he said.
“Back in day Israel Dagg and Conrad Smith were the standouts for me, watching those guys they made it look really easy. Dagg was an aerial threat and a really strong runner. Smith was pretty direct but he had silky skills, watching him play the game he was very calm and made it look easy.” It might be a bit early to say ‘remind you of anyone?’, But Freeman is heading in the right direction and looks like he is in for the long haul with Borthwick’s new-look England.
In the build-up to the Six Nations, Freeman, at a training camp in Girona, revealed he suffered from epilepsy which needs to be kept under control with medication. The back has had several fellow sufferers get in touch with him since then but revealed he has no anxiety about leading a normal rugby life on and off the pitch and his exploits this season would back that up. You would think that a contact sport like rugby would lead to stress about the condition, but Freeman takes it all in his stride. He has also had several charities reach out to him on the back of one particular interview he gave back in January.
He added: “As long as I am taking my tablets I am not worried, if I have forgotten my tablets that is when you have a few doubts in your mind. In terms of everyday life I just live it as normal and put it to the back of my mind. Most of the time I forget I have got it and just crack on. If a problem comes up, you just take it on and hopefully it doesn’t.
“I had a few charities in touch and a few people reaching out with their individual stories which was nice to hear. To have a bit of an impact those guys, show them a bit of light at the end of the tunnel and a bit of inspiration that was the reason I came out and said it. To see a positive impact like that was really special.”
A win over New Zealand, which would be only England’s third on Kiwi soil in history, after the victories of 1973 and 2003, would be like holing the winning putt in the Open Championship to complete the major Grand Slam for Freeman. And he is lining it up.
New Zealand v England, 8.05am, Sky Sports, Saturday
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