Tommy Freeman labels Lions tour ‘the pinnacle of rugby’ as England star assesses chances of making squad

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Tommy Freeman had a standout Six Nations Championship for England, making history after scoring in every game from a variety of backline positions. The Northampton Saints star played on the wing and at outside centre for Steve Borthwick, and such versatility could stand him in good stead when Andy Farrell picks his Lions squad for the summer tour to Australia.

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Tommy Freeman refused to be drawn on whether he deserves a place in Andy Farrell’s Lions squad this summer, although he was keen to emphasise just how much selection would mean.

The England star had a standout Six Nations campaign, becoming the first Englishman to score a try in every match.

England finished as runners up to France in the tournament, with a fair few players sticking their hand up for selection ahead of the summer tour to Australia.

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Freeman said that "everyone wants to be on that plane," when he spoke to Rugbypass.

"I am not looking too far ahead into [selection]," he added. "Obviously, what will be will be. I can control playing well here and doing what I can for the team and putting us in a good position.

"If it happens, it happens, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. But it is the pinnacle of rugby."

While Farrell knows the Irish boys inside and out, having coached them for since 2019, he is not as well acquainted with the newer England stars that have joined the ranks since he left his post as coaching assistant of his home country back in 2015.

But Freeman’s Six Nations form will have surely caught his eye, especially given Freeman looked at home at outside centre as his usual club wing position.

Utility backs are often required in a taxing Lions tour, and Freeman certainly fits the bill on that front.

"People talk about being moved around but as long as it’s not that 23 shirt, covering everything, as long as I am the pitch, I’ll be happy," he said.

"If it is going to happen, at least if I know throughout that week or leading up to it, I can get myself in that position, go through all the roles and make sure I am all clear on what I have got to do in that position.

"Outside of that, it’s just rugby, getting your hands on the ball and going out to cause chaos."

Freeman is likely up against the likes of Ireland’s James Lowe and Duhan van der Merwe of Scotland if he is to go as a pure wing, while Scot Huw Jones and Ireland’s Bundee Aki are two of the favourites at outside centre.

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Every coach will have their own opinion as to which position suits the 24-year-old the most, but he was clear that he is happy anywhere on the pitch, as long as he gets to start.

"I am pretty comfortable in all the positions, to be honest," Freeman continued.

"Obviously, I have got some love off the wing and got some good rewards off of it and I pop up in different spaces.

"But there are times when I play on the wing when the 13 would be out the back of things, and as a winger, I can still do that.

"If I am honest, based on the Six Nations we had, I had to make some difficult decisions at times, I think being on the wing is tougher.

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"You have got to be connected to your 13, you’re in a lot of space and you’ve got to cover all these players and these 10s can kick the ball on a sixpence pretty much.

"Obviously [at] 13 you have to make good reads, adjust and move quickly but I would say wing is a little bit tougher."

Farrell is due to name his touring squad at the beginning of May, with the opening match against Argentina in Dublin scheduled for June 20.

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