Freeman: We left with NZ respect
TOMMY Freeman flew out of New Zealand on Monday morning beaten but not bowed claiming England had won the respect of the All Blacks.
The two sides will meet again at Twickenham on November 2, and Steve Borthwick’s side have a score to settle after their 2-0 series defeat down under.
The locals had written off England’s chances ahead of the internationals but nearly ended up with egg on faces.
But Northampton winger Freeman insists the New Zealanders know who England are now and will not be taking them lightly in the autumn.
The 23-year-old, who has started all eight of England’s post World Cup fixtures, said: “That was touched on in the changing room. We try not to listen too much to the outside noise, we have gone about our business, focussed on what we needed to focus and what we need to get better at. It is coming into place, we have just got to get those wins.
“There is a bit of frustration, obviously we want to come away with a result in every game we play. But to be part of this team at the moment, I am so proud and the way we are playing, the way we are training with each other. It is going to click and we are going to be on the back end of good results. It has been awesome, an awesome journey to be part of so far.
“I am definitely going to enjoy the break, it has been a hell of a season, 55 weeks or whatever but we will definitely be excited to have them at our place, put a few wrongs right and hopefully come away with it.”
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Freeman have been part of an emerging back three, alongside fullback George Furbank who missed the Eden Park finale. Freeman added: “Manny is a few years younger than me and it blows my mind because he has got a body like Tarzan. It is awesome to see him doing well and playing alongside him on the wing and to have Fred there last weekend and when Furbs is there it is class.
“It is exciting for the future to have a young Test match squad for where this team is going to go.
“We are training week in, week out to make sure all our skills individually are up to date and we can get that understanding of each other.”
Veteran prop
Dan Cole, 37, added: “Look at the new caps involved in the squad now, there’s still a lot of young guys there, apart from me and Joe Marler dragging the age up. The average age is 20 something or other, and the team will just grow and get better.”