England star Freddie Steward sparks debate as he calls for major aerial law change
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Aerial battle.
England fullback Freddie Steward is calling for a serious shake-up in the laws around aerial battles ahead of the Six Nations.
Steward reckons the current rules are making it too easy for chasing defenders to just “flap around” in the air and spoil high balls — ruining skill contests and upping the risk of nasty collisions.
He’s urging World Rugby to force players to make a genuine, two-handed attempt to catch the ball, instead of just sailing in with one arm trying to bat it down.
He argues that since referees cracked down on escort runners, the aerial game has become more physical than technical. Instead of tidy catches and smart kicking strategies, players feel like they have to ram into opponents at full tilt just to secure possession, which isn’t great for safety or spectacle.
Speaking to The Guardian, Steward says this shift has forced him to change how he goes up for high balls, even risking bad collisions to come down with it.
“It’s probably more difficult than ever to come down clean with the ball with this new law,” The England fullback told The Guardian.
“A law change where they have to make a genuine attempt to catch the ball would be really positive. It’s too easy for wingers just to be a nuisance.
“It probably lacks a bit of skill just being able to throw your body in and flail an arm. I’ve struggled with it because I have that expectation of myself that you want to come down with absolutely everything. It’s very difficult to do that nowadays.
“This rule tweak would make the skies a real battleground of skill rather than just a free-for-all.”
Steward added that he feels the kicking game will be huge in this year’s Championship.
“I think we will see an increase in contestable kicking in this tournament, for sure,” Steward said.
“With the law changes it’s become a tactic a lot of teams will go for. Teams are being smart now and you can see them putting players on the other side of the ball. It’s almost like a game of chess.”
The aerial battle is one of rugby’s toughest contests — but should it be cleaned up? Steward thinks so, but not everyone will agree with him.
