Mike Brown, who was England's stalwart fullback for many years, shares his insights on the two current contenders for the coveted No. 15 jersey.
He gave his take on Freddie Steward's recent exclusion, and George Furbank, who impressed with his stellar performance in Dunedin last weekend.
, Brown began: "
No one thought Freddie Steward would be changed, he was kind of the immovable object, the guaranteed starter at 15. For whatever reason all the coaches saw something they wanted differently from Furbank, and he came in.
“Again he’s [Furbank] been through adversity, he didn’t have the best of starts with England but he’s worked on his game and has played amazingly for Saints this season."
Brown added: "Freddie is a world-class operator in his own right. Freddie just has to go through this little dip in his career and keep quietly grinding, keep sticking in there, and keep working hard on his game.
“Hopefully at Leicester, we can have a better season which will help him in his England aspirations. I wanna see him, as a teammate and as a friend, getting back into the English team.”
“I like Furbank, I think he’s an excellent player, and I love what he’s done with Saints, it’s great to watch his brilliant running with the ball, but I’ve always got to stand by my teammate. Also, I like those traditional fullbacks as he’s [Steward] brilliant under the highball and good at the basics first of all, so if he can get those other layers of his game added on, I can’t see why he won’t get an opportunity again."
He added: “But like I said what great riches and talents Steve has got just at fullback because in a few year’s time, when we get to the end of this cycle, to win a World Cup we need different players for different things.”
Louis Rees-Zammit’s dating history includes Premier League legends daughter and famous YouTuber
Six months have passed since Louis Rees-Zammit swapped the rugby pitch for the gridiron, chasing his NFL dream with the Kansas City Chiefs. The journey has been nothing short of exhilarating for the Welsh sensation.
After an intensive 10-week training program, Rees-Zammit signed with the Chiefs and is now eyeing a spot on the final 53-man roster. His rise in the sporting world has been meteoric, capturing the attention of fans and media alike.
But it's not just his professional life making headlines. Rees-Zammit's personal life has also been a hot topic, featuring relationships with high-profile personalities, from a Premier League legend's daughter to a famous YouTuber and a notable model/DJ.
Alicia Scholes
In December 2019, before his international debut for Wales, Rees-Zammit posted a photo of himself playing for Gloucester. Alicia Scholes, daughter of football legend Paul Scholes, humorously suggested an England debut was imminent, despite Rees-Zammit’s Welsh roots. He firmly replied, "Wales*".
In a BBC interview, Rees-Zammit spoke about his past relationship with Alicia, a professional netball player for London Pulse. He revealed the light-hearted attempts by her father to sway him towards England, which he steadfastly resisted.
Alicia and her father Paul found themselves in the spotlight in 2021 due to a viral video that led to playful banter among rival supporters.
Saffron Barker
Following his NFL trial day, Rees-Zammit ended his relationship with influencer Saffron Barker. The couple had gone public after the Rugby World Cup, but their relationship faced challenges with his move to the US.
Saffron addressed the breakup on social media, expressing gratitude for the support from her fans and hinting at a positive future.
She wrote to her fans: "Hi everyone. I have so much exciting news to update you on, and I promise to keep you all posted on that."
"For now though I wanted to address some of the questions re my relationship. Whilst I won't be going into any detail, I am no longer in a relationship. I am fully focused on my well-being, wonderful family, & career," she further commented. Saffron continued in the recent post:
"I want to thank all of the incredible people who have sent me messages of love & strength over the past few weeks. I have read every single one & I can't tell you how much it has meant to me."
Saffron - who has more than two million subscribers on her YouTube channel - concluded by writing: "I know good things come to good people so I hold onto the hope that 2024 is going to be a positive year for me. Lots of love."
Xandra Pohl
Recently single, Rees-Zammit has been spotted with Sports Illustrated model and TikTok sensation Xandra Pohl. The pair were seen enjoying a day out at Worlds of Fun amusement park in Kansas City, sparking rumors of a new romance.
Xandra, a successful DJ who has played at high-profile venues including Ushuaia Ibiza, is set to perform at Lollapalooza in Chicago this summer.
Alongside his new relationship, Rees-Zammit has also been embracing the Kansas City lifestyle, attending Travis Kelce's 'Kelce Jam' festival and sporting a new ear piercing.
As Louis Rees-Zammit continues to make waves both on and off the field, his journey in the NFL is one to watch closely.
