Freeman hails Saints bosses as he opens up on mental toll of Lions tour

Freeman played a key role in the Lions' series win in Australia last summer but admits he found it tough in the aftermath of such a busy and intense spell on the other side of the globe.

The Saints and England star explained: “I struggled without realising it. I had the five weeks off, body felt good, but my mental state wasn’t in the best spot.

“When you go on tours and go away for a long time, when you come back it’s almost ‘right, you’re done’.

“I get ill sometimes because of the stress and then all of a sudden it being off you and the relief. It was just a mixture of all that.

“Phil (Dowson) and Sam (Vesty) just pulled me to the side and asked if I was all right. I had probably been in denial and was saying ‘I’m fine, I’m fine’, but they pulled me from bits and bobs of training and then a few games, which was really good.

“England as well, picking that up and getting me back into the games in the right way.”

Referencing his post-Australia holiday that included trips to Universal Studios and Disney World in Florida, Freeman continued: “You go on a big Lions tour off the back of 34 games. It’s a lot of rugby and then I could probably have managed my time off better and not gone on as many rollercoaster rides and things like that, probably just sat in the sun.

“Without realising it, I think I was tired. My body felt like I was okay to go but I just think mentally it was a bit more of a struggle.

“I can’t really explain the feeling, if I’m honest, it was just a mix of up and downs, really. It took an extra two weeks to feel all right.”

Freeman hasn't shown any ill effects so far this season, continuing to excel for club and country.

He will again be in the England side this weekend as he switches from outside centre to wing in the Guinness Six Nations game against Ireland at Allianz Stadium.

Discussing his recent spell at centre, Freeman said: “There’s loads to learn still.

“With centre, you get to experience loads of different things.

"What you’ve got to realise is that every game doesn’t look the same. Every centre offers something different.”