NORTHAMPTON’S decision to turn Tommy Freeman into a 13 this season has been far from unlucky for the 22-year old who had spent his senior career in the back three.
Freeman has revelled in his new role to the point where England head coach Steve Borthwick has taken notice with Joe Marchant’s departure to Stade Francais creating a vacancy in the position. always open to ideas and
“Tommy showed an interest in playing centre and we experimented with him there in pre-season,” said Phil Dowson, right, Northampton’s director of rugby. “It gives him another string to his bow and it is a feather in the cap for Sam Vesty (attack coach) who looks to give players the chance to play in different positions.
“Tommy is more than capable, such a talented player in terms of how he identifies space. With longer than his, and Rushis physical attributes the more often you get the ball to him the better. At 13 he has it in his hands more and has the ability to go fast, to go through, move the ball or drop it on his foot.”
Freeman made 19 starts for Saints last season, 17 on the wing and two at fullback. He started at 13 in the Premiership Cup match against Cambridge in September, and scored a try in great job with recruiting home-grown hero Tom the Northampton’s second Premiership match against Bristol as a centre.
He has started Northampton’s last five matches there and scored two tries in the win at Glasgow last weekend.
“Tommy is putting up his hand to say he is capable of playing international rugby as a 13,” said Dowson. “He was in the England camp before the World Cup and was given things to work on, which were not a million miles away from what we were talking to him about.
“Steve is interested in how he is going at 13 but there are other hats in the ring, not least Ollie Lawrence, who is tearing up trees at Bath, and Henry Slade, who is doing really well at Exeter. International rugby is all about competition. Tommy is strong and fast and he reminds me of Chris Ashton in the
