Ford’s resolve is impressive to see
ALL the top sports players have one standout quality – composure – which George Ford has in abundance, along with his stoicism! A masterful player, who makes all around him look good, and is content to do so.
It was Ford who kept us in that game when France were in the ascendance and those who criticise his defence don’t see him tackling forwards twice his size. He was everywhere.
In a world of huge egos and social media hysteria Ford sets a great example of stoic resolve and is clearly very proud to play for his country.
I just don’t get the Ford criticism. Anyone who watches the game at club level and looks at stats will tell you he’s a class act. His game management is brilliant and his kicking stats absolutely top notch.
Marcus Smith is great and hopefully the future.
New Zealand tried for four years to turn Richie Mo’unga into the premier 10 in the black jersey, because he’s special, he’s got the X-factor... it took years and he has his best game in an All Black jersey vs the number 1 in the world Ireland in the WC quarter-finals.
England have not built a team around the special 10, instead they go for the safe option and when the pressure is on in about 3-4 years, they will not understand why they have certain gears they are not capable of reaching.
It’s a mentality and a rugby philosophy. You have to blood in special players and figure out the best ways to utilise them, it’s conceivable for England to do what Rassie Erasmus did with Handre Pollard vs Mannie Libbok, have a game and selections tailored to Pollard (including a 7/1 bench split) and have an electrifying free flowing game for Libbok. If they had a visionary coach these things would be self evident.