George Ford likely to see England action early against Ireland
As betting is widespread in Britain, a good wager would be how soon George Ford runs on at Twickenham.
Sooner rather than later would offer better odds.
Ford is only in the reserves tomorrow for England against Ireland in the Autumn Nations Cup second round. But it’s a measure of his importance and the quality of Ireland’s challenge that coach Eddie Jones summoned him after two training runs.
Ford was declared fully fit only this week, following a longstanding Achilles tendon injury he aggravated before the canceled Barbarians game a month ago.
“We didn’t think he was quite ready to start,” Jones says. “He’s only done two sessions with us so we felt he needed more time, but certainly off the bench he’ll be very handy.
“He’s played 69 tests and for him to come on in the last part of the game and add his tactical nous, his tactical kicking, his goalkicking if needed, and his distribution skills will be very handy for us.”
England has missed his visionary service. The backline was workmanlike in beating Italy 34-5 to win the Six Nations, and floundered while beating Georgia 40-0 to start the Nations Cup last weekend. Captain and first fiveeighth Owen Farrell has struggled to get the backline operating, prompting attack coach Simon Amor to say a lot of points have been squandered.
Ford established himself at first five last year at the Rugby World Cup in Japan, where he was often England’s best player. His partnership with Farrell at second five restored the dual playmaker threat after more than a year in limbo, and they carried England to the final and then to a Six Nations Triple Crown.
When Ford gets into the action tomorrow, Farrell will move out one spot, and Henry Slade or Ollie Lawrence will be replaced.
England have won the last two Six Nations clashes against Ireland, and both were intense. Ford was in the thick of it nine months ago when they prevailed 24-12 at Twickenham, pouncing on two uncharacteristic errors by Jonathan Sexton and Jacob Stockdale who failed to corral the ball on their tryline and conceded tries, one to Ford.
“The thing when you’re playing against Ireland is you’re going to be challenged,” Ford says. “You need to be right on it both from a mental point of view and a physical one, too.
“You’ve got to have a bit of fear in you that if you’re not quite there, Ireland will make you pay.”
The winner is likely to play for the Autumn Nations Cup title in two weeks.
In that regard, Jones says he’s
fielding his strongest side. He dropped Jack Willis, who scored a try on debut against Georgia, to restore his first-choice loose forwards trio of Tom Curry, Sam Underhill and Billy Vunipola to counter the threat of Ireland’s CJ Stander, Peter O’mahony and Caelan Doris.
“The arm wrestle will come,” Stander warns. ”You can only be physical if you know what you are doing. We know what we are going to do.”
With Sexton injured, neither he nor Conor Murray will start
against England for the first time since 2011.
Ireland coach Andy Farrell is trusting Jamison Gibson-park at halfback after impressing against Wales, and Ross Byrne ahead of Billy Burns at flyhalf. Byrne’s last start was a World Cup warmup thrashing from England last year.
“They deserve a chance to see how they handle a game and run a game on the big stage,” Farrell says of his halves. ”We’re as curious as they are in how they do that.”