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Alex Sanderson pinpoints where George Ford's Lions chances went south
By Neil Fissler
Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson admits it would be a travesty if George Ford, one of the best players of his generation, were to go through his entire career without winning a Lions cap.
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Ford, 32, who has won 99 England caps in an international career that spans over a decade, was omitted when Andy Farrell named his Lions squad to tour Australia this summer.
The Ireland boss named Finn Russell, Fin Smith, and Marcus Smith as his outside halves for the tour, and it is widely anticipated that one of the two seats on the plane that remain unfilled is being left open for his son Owen.
Sharks skipper Ben Curry recently admitted, “Fordy is a little cheat code,” driving the club towards a Premiership play-off place, and this tour is likely to be his last chance of Lions glory.
Ford, who was last month named Premiership Player of the Month, will be remembered as one of the best players to have never played on a Lions tour if he doesn’t get a late call.
“It really would be (a travesty) because he is clearly good enough. There are loads of players who maybe should have got 50 caps for England. It’s down to subjectivity, and it does come down to that at that level,” said Sanderson.
“I guess he is not too far away if an injury happens, but that is just my opinion. I cannot talk on behalf of Faz (Andy Farrell). But I think his opportunity was missed not playing in the Six Nations, if I’m honest.
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“That is when he could have made his claim. He can run a game of international intensity, and he came on and had the best cameo against Wales, but he didn’t have that opportunity for England, and that’s what stung him.
“He makes my life a lot easier. It’s like pulling his cord and letting him go. He is a mega-calming influence on me and the rest of the group, which is probably what I need.
“You need players like him to win cups. Owen Farrell was similar at Saracens. At Northampton, they had Courtney Lawes. You need these kinds of leaders to get you through the difficult parts of games and to lead the charge.”
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The travisty isnt now it was 2017. England were the best team with Ford and Farrell. Sexton was great. But Gatland took Biggar as he wanted him to train with Farrell and Sexton. That’s where the travisty was.
2021 rugby was in a mess but Biggar was a better player by then. Russell was on the up. And Ford got sidelined a bit which has continued.
England were anything but in 2017 and had just been found out leading into the Lions tour. Ireland knocked the wind out of them at the end of the 6Ns preventing a slam and ending their 18 match win streak. They had to regroup and adopt their dual playmaker style and began using Farrell in the centre. It was a further 2 mediocre 6Ns before it clicked and they got going in the 2019 RWC - more than 2 years later.
Fatland left Sexton at home for 2021 - a series that called for a vintage master for a bit of game management. Witness the Boks series winning goal kicker in the third test…
Travesty is a strong word.
However, if Andy is indeed reserving a seat for his son - the word corrupt comes to mind. Particularly after a nothing to write home about season at Racing. Hopefully an omen that sees the Wallabies win the series.
Faz Jr is not going… there is no way. Maybe if Sexton gets sick and he wants a coach.
Ignoring Ford, Anscombe and Crowley would also probably be ahead of Faz Jr in terms of play this season.
yes, if a made up scenario that is clearly not going to take place, does take place, that would be very bad!