Jones blames tailing off of Ford form on Bath tactics
Eddie Jones has challenged George Ford to shake off a dip in form that the England head coach ascribes to the fly-half being asked to play “in a way that doesn’t suit him” at Bath, and to take his country’s attack to new heights in the game against the Barbarians on Sunday and two Tests in Argentina next month.
Ford, overlooked by the Lions, has been thrust into an enhanced leadership role with England and is determined to begin a new chapter in his sporting life by bringing success to the national team as well as to his new club, Leicester.
“Eddie has challenged me to keep improving our attack and to ask more questions of the opposition and be more dangerous,” said Ford, who lost out to Wales’s Dan Biggar in the shakedown for the third fly-half spot with the Lions, an outcome that could be attributed to a tailing-off in his own game. Jones offers a view on that.
“How George was being asked to play for Bath doesn’t really suit how he plays and, therefore, it restricted his development,” Jones said. “As long as I see effort from players, that is what matters, and there was plenty of effort from George.”
Ford will be expected to take that attitude into Sunday’s game at Twickenham in a new-look England side shorn of 15 Lions, as well as players from Premiership finalists Exeter and Wasps, and also Northampton, who have a European play-off with Stade Français.
England will be without captain Dylan Hartley, although the Saints hooker will join up with the squad as they prepare for the series against World Cup 2019 opponents Argentina. Ford is ready to step up to the mark.
“I’m trying to develop my leadership skills all the time,” he said. “As a No10 you are an on-field leader but with Dylan not being here there is some off-field stuff I have tried to take upon myself a bit more.”
He said his “sole focus” was England, with the Lions “irrelevant to me now”. He added: “Eddie rang that afternoon [of the squad announcement] and basically said, ‘Let’s crack on’. I want to be part of this England team that can go to the 2019 Rugby World Cup and try to win it. We want to go to Argentina and win 2-0 and are expecting to do so regardless of who is here.”
Harlequins centre Joe Marchant and Northampton prop Paul Hill have been ruled out of the tour to Argentina through injury. Former England international Alex Goode has been selected by the Barbarians to face his national team on Sunday.