England full-back Freddie Steward has declared that the team is “desperate” to beat the All Blacks and end a 13-year wait for a home victory over New Zealand when the two rugby giants clash at Twickenham Stadium this Saturday in the Quilter Nations Series.
England last defeated New Zealand at home back in 2012, when a youthful side inspired by Manu Tuilagi secured a famous 38–21 win. Since then, the All Blacks have maintained their aura — but Steward believes the time has come for England to rewrite that story.
England Seek Redemption Against the All Blacks
Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated England vs New Zealand Test, Steward admitted the squad is feeling the magnitude of the occasion.
“People always give it the old, ‘oh, it’s just another week,’ but it’s not,” said Steward. “You can sense there’s that extra buzz, excitement — and a bit of desperation.”
Having faced New Zealand twice in his 39 Test caps — a 25–25 draw at Twickenham in 2022 and a 24–17 defeat in Auckland in 2024 — Steward knows the emotional charge that comes with these matches.
“The All Blacks are iconic. The haka, the atmosphere, everything about them — it’s always a cracker,” he said. “When we drew that game at Twickenham, when the third try went in late on, it was one of the loudest I’ve ever heard the stadium. The lads are buzzing for it again this weekend.”
England’s last major triumph over New Zealand came in the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final in Yokohama, where they stunned the world with a dominant 19–7 victory. However, a home victory has proven elusive since 2012 — something Steward and his teammates are eager to change.
Steward Battles Back from Painful Finger Injury
The Leicester Tigers full-back is set to return to the lineup after suffering a nasty finger injury in England’s 25–7 win over Australia earlier this month.
Describing the incident in grisly detail, Steward revealed:
“The bone was sticking out the top — out of the skin. I tried to get it back in, the physios tried and couldn’t, so I had to go down the tunnel.
“I told the lads I’d injured my pinky finger and they just laughed — but it was a decent one!”
Despite the injury, Steward is expected to start at full-back, underlining his importance in Steve Borthwick’s England lineup as they prepare for one of their toughest tests of the season.
How the New Law Changes Have Made Steward’s Role Harder
The 24-year-old also spoke about how recent rugby law changes have made fielding high kicks much tougher for full-backs.
Under the new rules, chasing players now have unimpeded access to contest high balls — making aerial duels more dangerous and unpredictable.
“It’s become so much harder,” Steward admitted. “Against Australia, I couldn’t bring a high ball down for love or money in the first half.
“You have to give the Aussie boys credit — Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is phenomenal in the air, and Harry Potter came hard at me.
“I’ve tried to catch over my head more this season at Leicester — it gives you that extra metre of reach. It’s made my job tougher, but I think it’s no bad thing. People want to see proper aerial contests.”
Emma Raducanu Joins England Camp to Share Mental Strength Tips
In a surprise addition to England’s pre-match preparation, British tennis star Emma Raducanu joined the squad at their Surrey training base earlier this week.
The 2021 US Open champion shared insights into her approach to handling pressure, mental preparation, and performance at the elite level.
Head coach Steve Borthwick described her visit as “a privilege” and a valuable opportunity for his players to learn from another top-level athlete.
“To have elite sports people like Emma visit and share their experiences is always a learning moment,” said Borthwick. “The players really enjoyed hearing how she prepares mentally and physically for competition at the very top.”
Raducanu even participated in a lineout drill, sparking laughter among the squad — a sign of the relaxed but focused energy in camp ahead of Saturday’s match.
Twickenham Awaits a Classic Showdown
Saturday’s clash promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the 2025 Quilter Nations Series. With BBC Radio 5 Live providing full commentary and coverage on the BBC Sport app, rugby fans around the world will be watching closely to see whether England can finally dethrone the All Blacks on home soil.
For Steward and his teammates, it’s not just another Test — it’s a chance to restore pride, make history, and prove England can compete with the best in world rugby.
“We’re desperate to get that win,” Steward said. “You don’t get many chances to beat New Zealand at Twickenham. We’ll give everything.”
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