Ford: We’ll put pressure on fly-half Russell...but legally!

GEORGE FORD insists that England will not stoop to any of Scotland’s dirty tricks after the No 10 was targeted in the Murrayfield tunnel last year. A brawl erupted after Scotland flanker Ryan Wilson shoved Ford in the back like a ‘school bully’ as the teams returned to the dressing rooms after their warm-ups. Scotland won the game 25-13 and partied for two days in celebration. ‘I was just trying to walk in and put my shirt on!’ recalled Ford. ‘More of that goes on than you think. Any team would try anything to get an upper hand. The 10 plays a pivotal role in terms of running the team and making decisions, so you’re going to be a target. We’ll try and put pressure on Finn Russell at the weekend, legally, in terms of coming off the line and forcing him to make decisions he doesn’t want to make.’ Wilson, however, claimed it was Owen Farrell who instigated last year’s bust up. The back-row said on the BBC: ‘They reckon I was getting stuck into George Ford but I was just telling him a few good spots to go out. I said “Listen, you won’t be going out after we beat ya!” Next thing, Faz comes running down the tunnel and pushes me in the back.’