Sunday People

THE BOIL Perfect 10 goal for Ford

Show to help leave Munster mashed star turn Vunipola

- By Adam Hathaway

SaracensS a penaltyl on h half-way,lf some red jerseys turned their backs and sloped away.

Quick

Richard Wiggleswor­th took a quick tap, released Wyles on a run towards the touchline where, having drawn three defenders, he delivered a sublime cross-kick that Ashton spotted first and scored.

Farrell’s conversion and anotherh goal l put S Saracens 20 points clear at the break. He was on target again on 58 minutes as Munster’s scrum disintegra­ted.

Denis Hurley hit back with a close-range try, but Ashton sealed victory with his second try of the match. SARACENS: GEORGE FORD has been warned – by the man he moved clubs to avoid – that he is still not England’s first choice No.10.

Former England fly-half Toby Flood says Ford needs two big games in Europe ahead of the Six Nations to hold off competitio­n from Owen Farrell, Stephen Myler and Danny Cipriani.

Ford shifted from Leicester to Bath in 2013 because Flood was first-choice flyhalf and blocking his way.

Flood is now at French outfit Toulouse and the pair go head-to-head in the Champions Cup today in a must-win game for Bath.

Flood said: “George has had a couple of good games but he probably needs to back it up with a few more and come out of this Six Nations clearly first-choice.

“I think George feels he’s the leader of that team, despite his age, and that’s what you want from your 10.

“Everything he has done he has earned himself. George is an exceptiona­lly hard-working kid who left Leicester when I was there because he wanted to play. But competitio­n for that shirt is fierce.

“He needs another big performanc­e in there really to nail it down.

“England have five guys chomping at the bit, with Farrell, Myler, Cipriani and Freddie Burns.

“That’s the Jonny Wilkinson effect: every young kid wanted to emulate Jonny and drop that goal, so now you’ve got five guys of a similar age here who are desperate to get involved.”

Today’s match-up is a big day for Ford’s team-mates Kyle Eastmond and wing Semesa Rokoduguni – both dumped by England in the autumn – with Stuart Lancaster naming his squad on Wednesday.

But there is no chance for Sam Burgess to press his claims. The league convert has a slight knee injury and is out of the squad but is expected to be named by Lancaster in the secondstri­ng Saxons.

Four-time European champions Toulouse, led by French skipper Thierry Dusautoir, are the only unbeaten side in the competitio­n, with former Sale and New Zealand centre Luke McAlister partnering Flood in midfield.

Elsewhere, Dylan Hartley is back to skipper Northampto­n at the Ospreys after serving a three-week ban for elbowing Leicester’s Matt Smith in the face.

In the other games, Glasgow host Montpellie­r and Racing Metro should batter Italian side Treviso.

In the Challenge Cup Exeter are away to Connacht, where a win would almost guarantee a last eight spot.

 ??  ?? HIGH POINT: Ashton celebrates
scoring a try for Saracens
with Peter O’Mahony UGLY: Sarries’ Jacques Burger scuffles
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ford
HIGH POINT: Ashton celebrates scoring a try for Saracens with Peter O’Mahony UGLY: Sarries’ Jacques Burger scuffles IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ford
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