I can’t wait to get back to Leicester says Ford
GEORGE Ford is focused on another succesful summer in white before returning to former club Leicester determined to win some silverware after a barren spell at Bath.
Ford revealed he does not know whether he is on Warren Gatland’s standby list for the Lions tour after missing out to Jonny Sexton, Dan Biggar and Owen Farrell.
Instead, the 35-cap playmaker is looking foward to testing himself in Argentina as England aim to return to winning ways after Ireland ended their 18game winning run in March.
“I’m not sure if I’m on standby with the Lions but my focus is on Argentina,” Ford told The Rugby Paper. “The important thing for me is trying to improve as a player over the next couple of weeks and be part of this England squad. We’re on a good journey and we’re looking to build towards the next World Cup in 2019.
“Argentina are a very emotional and physical team and we understand how tough it is going to be out there in front of a hostile crowd.
“We're looking forward to it and we’ve got a good opportunity to keep improving and take our game to a new level.”
Ford says it in attack that England will be looking to develop this summer. He added: “I don’t think that defeat in Dublin will change the way we go about what we do. You can’t just look at one game in isolation.
“We want to ask more questions in attack and come more of a threat ball in hand while making sure our defence is up to scratch.
“We’ve trained well in camp and hopefully we can try a few things against the Barbarians next week.”
Upon his return from South America, Ford will move back to Leicester after four years in Bath and the 24-year-old is chomping at the bit to wear the Tigers shirt again, even if the people who brought him back are not at the club anymore.
He added: “I can’t wait to get back to Leicester. I had some very good memories there and some of the lads from before are still there so it’ll be nice to play with them and hopefully be successful again.
“I won a Premiership with Tigers and that’s where we want to be — competing for trophies in both the Premiership and Europe.
“I got some good opportunities to play in big games before I left but it’ll be different this time as I’ll be coming back with a lot more experience and I can be a leader in the squad.
“I signed my contract with Richard Cockerill and Aaron Mauger still in charge. They are not here anymore but it is what it is.
“I know Matt O’Connor from my time at the club before so hopefully he’ll be happy to have me in his squad next season. He wants to play an attacking game and I’m looking forward to working with him.”