Tommy Freeman has pledged that England will take the fight to South Africa, despite the formidable challenge of facing the reigning world champions. The winger insists that the Springboks, while dominant on the global stage, are “not unbeatable” and says England is determined to put their game plan into action at Twickenham on Saturday.
Freeman’s comments come in the wake of England’s disappointing autumn campaign, where they have suffered consecutive home defeats, including a last-minute loss to Australia that saw them slip to seventh in the world rankings. In contrast, South Africa returned to the top of the rankings after a convincing win over Scotland. With England’s coach Steve Borthwick under increasing pressure, Freeman and his teammates are aware of the magnitude of the task ahead.
The last time England met South Africa, in the semi-final of the 2023 World Cup, they came agonizingly close to an upset, losing by just a point. Freeman reflected on that game, noting that England had caused the Springboks considerable discomfort with their aggressive approach. “They were definitely blown back by the way the lads took it to them,” Freeman said. “They are still human, they are still rugby players, they are still playing the same game. We are going to deliver our game as best we can, make a few wrongs right from last weekend and we are going to go properly after them.”
Freeman emphasized that England would not approach the game with a mindset of merely hoping to keep it competitive. “We are not going in saying, ‘we are expecting them to beat us, we will give it a shot,'” he asserted. “That has never crossed our mind. We are going in to deliver our gameplan and if we deliver it well enough, we know we can beat any team.”
South Africa presents a unique challenge, with their powerful forward pack, dynamic backline, and strategic kicking game. However, Freeman remains confident that, despite being considered underdogs, England has the ability to cause an upset. “The Boks offer something very different. They’re a new challenge and they’re on top of the world at the moment. We may be considered underdogs but we’re going to take a big shot at them.”
Freeman has his own personal motivation to perform well against South Africa, following a disappointing outing in their last encounter at Twickenham in 2022. In that match, a 27-13 loss saw Freeman substituted at half-time, a moment he described as “difficult.” At the time, it was his third cap, and playing at Twickenham in front of family and friends made the experience even more bitter. Freeman acknowledged that the memory still lingers, but he is focused on making amends. “This opportunity is one to put it right, that’s definitely in the back of my mind at the moment,” he said.
England’s chances of overcoming the Springboks will be boosted by the return to form of several key players, though the team will be without the injured Tom Curry and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. The absence of Curry, in particular, is a significant blow, as he has been a mainstay in the England back row. However, the emergence of Ollie Sleightholme as a potential starter provides some optimism. After scoring two tries off the bench against Australia, Sleightholme will be hoping to make his first England start against South Africa.
The loss to Australia was particularly frustrating for Freeman and his teammates, as they had opportunities to secure the win but ultimately fell short. Despite a strong attacking performance, England’s defensive lapses, including a staggering 36 missed tackles, proved costly. Freeman acknowledged the need for improvement in this area, particularly under the guidance of new defence coach Joe El-Abd. “We’re not far off where we want to be,” he said. “There’s a bit of tentativeness. You want to get off the line and there’s potentially that hesitation. I don’t think there’s too much we’re doing wrong; yes, we’re conceding, but a lot of that has come off of our transition. As soon as we can stop them transitioning and attacking against us, we’ll look strong from that.”
With both injuries and recent form to contend with, England’s task against South Africa remains a daunting one. However, Freeman’s defiant words reflect a growing determination within the squad to prove their critics wrong. As the Autumn Nations Series continues, England will need to tighten their defensive systems, be clinical in attack, and take the fight to the world champions if they are to avoid another disappointing result. Despite the odds, Freeman believes in his team’s ability to rise to the occasion and deliver a performance capable of upsetting the rugby world.
