The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Ford dropped as Jones aims to stifle threat of Kerevi
England have dropped George Ford in order to beef up their midfield in expectation of a Samu Kerevi-led assault from Australia when the rivals clash in Saturday’s World Cup quarterfinal.
In a shock selection by Eddie Jones, Ford loses the fly-half duties to captain Owen Farrell with Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade paired together in the centres.
Ford has been superb since his restoration as ringmaster during the warm-up series for Japan 2019 and started all three group games in the position, but he is confined to a bench role for the Oita Stadium showdown.
Instead, Farrell will act as chief conductor as Eddie Jones reverts to his first-choice midfield for the Six Nations.
The decision has shades of the World Cup four years ago when Ford was axed for the pivotal group game against Wales in favour of Farrell, who on that occasion formed a heavyweight trio alongside Sam Burgess and Brad Barrett.
Back then it was the ballcarrying threat of Jamie Roberts that shaped Stuart Lancaster’s thinking, now it is Kerevi’s tacklebusting brilliance over the last 18 months that has influenced Jones.
“We just feel this is our best combination for this week. Kerevi is a damaging ball carrier and defensively we feel like it’s a pretty strong 10-12-13 combination,” Jones said.
“We know Australia are a high possession and high phase team.
“That’s how they want to play and so there’s going to be a lot of defending in the midfield area.
“We think those three guys are well equipped to handle it.
“We need to defend with brutality.
“We believe we’ve got the defensive capabilities to handle them and cause them a few problems. George is disappointed but he knows he’s got an important role in the team.”
Jones has acted conservatively by dropping the in-form Ford and giving Slade his first start since June 1, when Exeter lost to Saracens in the Gallagher Premiership final.