GAUL OR NOTHING
Ford: Written-off French have the ‘no fear factor’ that makes them very dangerous. They must be given the utmost respect
GEORGE FORD knows exactly how France will feel when they send a makeshift team into battle against England – and it concerns him.
Sunday’s Nations Cup final pits a full- strength England against secondstring opposition due to French clubs limiting players to three Tests this autumn.
It is a scenario that reminds fly- half Ford of Eng land’s tour to Argentina in 2017 (inset, right) when Eddie Jones swapped 15 unavailable Lions for the same number of uncapped rookies.
England used being written off as fuel and powered to a 2- 0 series sweep of a nation which reached the semi-finals of two of the three previous World Cups. “It was like ‘ let’s go for this, no fear’,” said Ford, whose teammates back then included today’s frontline stars Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Henry Slade and Ellis Genge.
“I can remember we had 11 uncapped players in our 23 for the first Test, 11 guys who had been given the unbelievable privilege of playing for their country for the first time.
“The adversity was a motivating factor and, certainly, it brought the best out of us.
“And this weekend, 100 per cent, that ‘ no fear’ factor makes France unbelievably dangerous.
“It’s in their DNA that one offload and 15 French guys in blue shirts come alive. They’re ready, they’re off. We need to be at our best.”
And that is before you factor in the “very, very energised, aggressive defence” Ford expects coach Shaun Edwards ( right) to bring to Twickenham. “Those guys will be chomping at the bit,” he said.
“They’ve got strength in depth and we’ve got to pay that the utmost respect.
“Regardless of who they pick they’re now one of the best and most improved teams in the world, so we’re going to need to be at our best.”
Jones names a line-up today expected to top 800 caps. Benjamin Kayser, the exFrance hooker, reckons they will have too much class.
“England is a little too far ahead, it is a bit of an impossible task,” he said. “France won’t get a hiding, there definitely won’t be 40 points between the teams. Some guys in there are mega good, they deserve a shot. But the step is just a little bit too high.”
The 13 Barbarians charged with the breach of Covid protocol that led to the late postponement of England’s game against the invitational side in October will discover their fate on Monday.