FORD’S IN TOP GEAR
Star is not fazed by Cipriani’s return after super 29-point haul for Tigers
GEORGE FORD rejects the idea that losing his England jersey to Danny Cipriani was a kick up the backside he needed.
Yet in his first home league game back with Leicester he amassed 29 points and looked twice the player he has all year.
“I don’t think it was a wake-up call for me at all,” said the fly-half, who had never scored so many points in a single Premiership match.
“You want to start for your country, of course you do, but to win a World Cup we’ve got to be a squad of 31, we’ve got to be as tight as anything.
“Eddie ( Jones) went for that decision from gut instinct. You respect that and come back a better player. I was more than happy with the way I played in the summer.”
He might have been, but World Cupwinner Matt Dawson was not and said so in his most recent Mirror column. “We all know the talent he has but George needs to quickly reassert himself in the pecking order,” Dawson wrote. “He must show he can dictate big games. A year out from the World Cup he needs to be man of the match regularly if he’s to convince Eddie he’s his man for Japan. Cipriani, remember, is the man in possession.”
Ford, 25, duly picked up man-of-thematch honours on a day which also saw the return to form of Manu Tuilagi with a stunning 53-metre try.
After a week of praise for Cipriani and his eye-catching start at Gloucester Ford was even more dominant than has been his rival as England No.10.
“A big focus for me was running with the ball more and being a bit more threatening,” he said. “I want to continue to push areas of my game.”
This, albeit only one match and one filled with emotion following regime change at Welford Road, is significant for England. Jones names his autumn training squad on Thursday week and needs his quarterbacks on top form.
There was mixed news for Jones. Billy Vunipola scored on his return for Saracens, but Brad Shields broke a cheekbone on his Wasps debut.