Ford hits top gear to take fight to Cipriani
❑ GEORGE FORD insists losing his England jersey to Danny Cipriani was not a kick up the backside that he needed.
Yet in his first home league game back with Leicester, he amassed 29 points and looked twice the player he has been all year.
“I don’t think it was a wake-up call for me at all,” said fly-half Ford, who had never scored so many points in a single Premiership match.
“You want to start for your country, of course you do, but to win a World Cup we’ve got to be a squad of 31, we’ve got to be as tight as anything.
“Eddie Jones went for that decision from his gut instinct point of view. You respect that and come back a better player. I was more than happy with the way I played in the summer.”
Ford, 25, picked up the man of the match
LEICESTER NEWCASTLE
honours on a day which also brought the return to form of Manu Tuilagi with a stunning 53-metre try.
At the end of a week filled with praise for Cipriani and his fine start at Gloucester, Ford looked even more dominant than his rival.
Ford, 25, said: “A big focus for me was running with the ball SUPER SHOW: Ford sparkled for Tigers with 29-point haul more and being a bit more threatening, which I was pleased with. I want to continue to push areas of my game.” This, albeit only one game and one filled with emotion following the regime change at Welford Road with new boss Geordan Murphy gaining the perfect start, is significant for England. Jones names his autumn training squad on Thursday week ahead of the autumn Test series and he needs his half-backs on top form. Cipriani was again superb at Bath as Gloucester snatched a 31-31 draw.