Invisible Man rescues Tigers

GEORGE FORD, dubbed the Invisible Man by Eddie Jones, gave a game-saving display for Leicester.

England’s biggest club were close to their fourth defeat in five against the bottom side. That they survived was down to fly-half Ford.

The Tigers were still outscored by three tries to one in front of a sparse crowd at Welford Road.

But in a contest decided by kicks, Ford

LEICESTER

got his while missed theirs.

“George controlled the game,” said Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond, whose own sharpshooter AJ MacGinty was lost to injury before kick-off.

If Ford’s form was good news for England, Sale it got even better with Diamond’s revelation that Sharks scrum-half Faf de Klerk will not play for South Africa against England on November 3.

Diamond hatched a deal with him that he could remain with the Boks throughout the Rugby Championship in return for putting Sale before the autumn internationals.

How Sale could have done with MacGinty as Will Cliff and Byron McGuigan missed all four of their kicks while Ford nailed his five.

So Leicester edged a mistake-ridden contest, but they will not shout too loudly about it.

The Tigers still allowed the league’s bluntest attack to score three tries, confirming they remain the worst in the Premiership in every defensive category.

LEICESTER – Try: Con: Pens: SALE Tries: –