Yes, I was wrong to drop Ford admits Jones

GEORGE Ford may not be the biggest man in the England squad, but Eddie Jones says he is looming large in his autumn plans – with the England head coach admitting he made a mistake in dropping the Bath fly-half to the bench for the first Test of the summer tour of Australia.

Jones said his change of mind and deployment of Ford on the half hour in Brisbane, with Owen Farrell moving to insidecentre, was a key tactical decision in the 3-0 whitewash of Australia.

Jones explained: “Tactically I thought we needed to go in with a more physical presence at 10 and 12. As it was, I got that wrong. I made the change, and George never looked back.”

Jones added that he was impressed with the way Ford had carried his exceptional tour form into the new Premiership season, and the way he has adapted to Todd Blackadder’s arrival as Bath’s rugby director following the axing of his father, Mike.

“George looks like he is very relaxed in that environment, and understands the game the new coaches have brought in.

“He’s fitted in well. He has time on the ball, is making good decisions, and is kicking well – he just needs to run a bit more.”

However, Jones said that despite the skills Ford brings, he still wants to be able to increase the physicality, and size, in midfield when required.

“There will be times when we need to have bigger guys. It’s horses-forcourses. I want to have two options in the back line where we can go with two 10s, at 10 and 12, or a 10 and a more affrontive 12.”