Freddie Steward: England World Cup semi-final loss 'still raw', says Leicester full-back
- Published
Freddie Steward featured in five of England's seven games at the World Cup
Full-back Freddie Steward finds it hard to relive England's one-point World Cup semi-final defeat by eventual champions South Africa.
But on his return to Leicester Tigers, the most painful moment of that October night in Paris was impossible to avoid.
With Tigers team-mate Handre Pollard the one to sink the 77th-minute winning penalty to send the Springboks to the decider, the kick was on the highlight reel that was played when the remaining World Cup contingent returned to Mattioli Woods Welford Road this month.
"That was the nail in the coffin for us, which was a bit sore, but the boys found that funny," Steward told BBC Radio Leicester with a snort.
"I don't think I'll get over that game for a long time.
"It's a tough one to talk about because, on one hand, you are unbelievably proud of an incredible performance, the way we went about our work that night and how close we got.
"Then, on the other hand, there is the disappointment of getting within one point of the world champions, so it is a difficult one to reflect on.
"The emotion is still very raw."
Still, Steward sees the defeat - and consolation of winning the play-off for third spot, at the end of what was his first World Cup campaign - as motivation.
"If anything, it adds fuel to the fire," he said.
"Having experienced that now, I know I certainly don't want to be in that headspace again, it was emotional at full-time.
"When you get to within that fine of a margin it really hurts and it's hard to deal with, but we were fortunate to have the third and fourth place final and we got that reward at the end."
Steward also says getting to the last four in France, and pushing eventual back-to-back champions South Africa to the limit in the semi-final, would have changed how many view Steve Borthwick's England side after a disastrous build-up to the tournament.
England suffered five defeats in six games - including a first ever defeat by Fiji - in readiness for the World Cup.
'We have brought people back onside'
"After the Fiji game we were going to the World Cup and - you could try to ignore it, but you could still hear that noise - and feel that there wasn't too much hope and optimism around," Steward said.
"The most important thing is the attitude and belief of the playing group, and not for one moment - even after the Fiji game - did we not believe we were capable of going to France and achieving what we did. And we are disappointed that we didn't go all the way.
"It's nice now and I hope we have brought a lot of people back onside, and hope they have seen what we are capable of now.
"It's all good saying that, but we have to back that up in the Six Nations and that is the next challenge."
But before that comes Steward's return to club duties.
Alongside England team-mates Ben Youngs, Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole and George Martin, as well Argentina's Julian Montoya and World Cup winners Jasper Wiese and Pollard, the full complement of World Cup players have now returned to a Tigers side that have made a slow start to the Premiership campaign.
Leicester are second from bottom in the table, with just one win from four games under Australian boss Dan McKellar.
Tigers next host Harlequins on Saturday and Steward says getting excited for his return to the club is easy as someone who grew up a Tigers fan.
"I'm glad the first one back is a home game, I just can't wait to be back and run out there," he said.
"Mattioli Woods Welford Road is a lot smaller than the Stade de France and Twickenham, but there is something special about it.
"As a guy who has come through the academy, who has supported Leicester for a long time, I don't think it will ever be a challenge to get up for a game there.
"I can't wait to pull the shirt back on with these guys and run out there and enjoy it."