'I’ll probably need to get over being starstruck facing All Blacks' - Freddie Steward

England fullback Freddie Steward is aiming to keep his admiration for the All Blacks aside when the two teams lock horns against each other at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday.

A product of Leicester Academy, Steward made his England debut in 2021 and has gone on to play 15 Tests since then. He scored the opening try for England in the recently concluded autumn international fixture which they went on to win 52-13.

Having grown up admiring the All Blacks, Steward now is keen to impress against them in the weekend clash.

“It’s important not to get caught up in that aura of their history and their success and just treat it as just another game.

“As a young lad who’s watched rugby his whole life, the All Blacks are the team you want to play against,” he told.

“To be able to face the Haka is just so exciting. I’ll probably need to get over being starstruck in the week so that come game-day I’m in a position where I’m ready to perform.”

England started the campaign with narrow defeat to Argentina but have revived themselves with a convincing win over the Brave Blossoms. With matches against New Zealand and South Africa left, Steward is confident of England's preparations leading to the World Cup next year.

“We’ll work out what we did well against Japan and what we didn’t do well, put it right and put together a plan to beat them.

"We had a point to prove after the Argentina game. We were frustrated with that result.”