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Thursday

14:00

International

Alex Sanderson quells Six Nations fears after George Ford has scan

By Chris Jones

27 days ago

George Ford of Sale Sharks pictured during the pre-season friendly match between Sale Sharks and Newcastle Falcons at Heywood Road on September 07, 2024 in Sale, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images for Sale Sharks)

England fly-half George Ford has undergone a scan on the knee injury that is stopping him kicking at goal but Alex Sanderson, the Sale Sharks director of rugby, has moved quickly to dispel fears it will impact the player’s availability for the Six Nations championship.

Rob du Preez took over the kicking off the ground in Sale’s impressive 29-7 victory over Racing 92 in the Investec Champions Cup with Ford still able to use his kicking leg to deliver the spiral kicks and touch finders.

That will continue to be the case in Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership home game against winless Exeter Chiefs while Ford waits for the verdict of a consultant who will examine the scan to determine the best treatment.

Sanderson said: “He went for a scan today and this was a precautionary scan so please don’t start writing George Ford knee drama. There is no drama and he is up for selection and willing to play but he is feeling his medial ligament and that affects kicking from the floor.

“It is only a certain range of kicking and style where he can feel it. He has gone for a scan to see what kind of pain medication will allow him to kick from the floor and not aggravate it.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Sale

28 - 10

Full-time

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“So, it is either a pill or an injection. Which means he will need a couple of days off which he will get post the Bristol game.

“It is an awareness (of the injury) and we want him to be kicking everything and moving forward. Rob du Preez is kicking well.”

While Ford is unable to deliver his full range of skills, Sanderson has confirmed captain Ben Curry came through his man of the match performance in the win over Racing 92 without any problems despite limping at the end of the match.

Tom Curry is also set to be given the green light to play again after his stem cell treatment to help manage the hip injury that threatened to end his career before surgery. However, Tom will not be used until the Bristol game on December 27 at Ashton Gate.

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Comments

1 Comment

Bull Shark 27 days ago

Nobody dare call it a drama.

Join free and tell us what you really think!

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Comments on RugbyPass

Head high tackle 5 minutes ago

Scott Robertson has to take charge of his All Blacks in 2025

Razor WANTS the 10 to fail. "Oh look I need Mounga". Going to be embarrassing when Mounga does what he has for 5 years at test level. Perhaps Razor will be gone by the time Mounga is available again.

41 Go to comments

Head high tackle 9 minutes ago

Scott Robertson has to take charge of his All Blacks in 2025

Yes he does not seem to be loyal to his players in some ways yet shows a guy like Havili such undeserved loyalty its an issue. Fihaki and Bell were two others who did not deserve the loyalty shown to them.

Agree about him losing the locker room. Its worrying for me.

41 Go to comments

Head high tackle 14 minutes ago

Scott Robertson has to take charge of his All Blacks in 2025

Id say another 70% season and Razor looses the fans and loose his job. If you look at 24s draw compared to 2025's he should win 11 from 13 minimum. Thats close to 85%. 3 v France, 1 v Aus, 2 v SA at home and the 4 home nations, 1 Aus test away plus whatever addons that come up with like a Fiji or a Japan test.

Could lose 1 v SA and the Ireland or perhaps Scotland tests and have a successful year but We should beat Ireland and Scotland and you would have to think Razor's priority would be to win 2 v SA at home.

When you think about how bad we played last year yet still should have won 1 SA test and could have easily beaten France had Dmac started in place of BB.

41 Go to comments

Head high tackle 26 minutes ago

Scott Robertson has to take charge of his All Blacks in 2025

Razor wants Mounga so bad he is failing at doing anything with what he has. I actually question if he is genuinely trying to make the current lot fail. Look at his game plans ( if you can find one ) for his backs! Mounga has failed for 5 years. I for 1 do not want to see Mounga back yet. Mounga signed for 3 years. Do the contract and then come back and compete for his spot like everyone else has too. Razor had 14 tests to try out guys. 4 tests ( Fiji, Japan, Italy and 2nd Bledisloe ) to be able to try anything he wanted as they were garranteed wins or trophy secured. He chose not to.

How can Mounga be "In his Prime" when he is older than Dmac? Its a con from Razor and some are falling for it, but what if Razor kills everyone to get Mounga in the seat then Mounga and the ABs had better win. It will be Razors career on the line.

41 Go to comments

Head high tackle 37 minutes ago

Scott Robertson has to take charge of his All Blacks in 2025

I think the problems are wider than 10, and Im not sure they are personel based. More coaching based. Id love to see a proven backs coach come in. Maybe a Schmidt or a Smith but cant see those guys all that keen.

41 Go to comments

Head high tackle 38 minutes ago

Scott Robertson has to take charge of his All Blacks in 2025

He has no backs plan. Constantly changes their priorities, kicking, running plans and just confuses his 9 and 10. The way he dropped Dmac for the France game was nothing but hate from Razor. Why on earth would you go back to BB at 10 after the English test where Dmac had to save the match, was confusing. Razor failed in 2024 and if something isnt improved he will be gone in 2025.He desperately needs a backs coach. Get the Chiefs backs coach. That coach seems to be able to get a backline moving. Come to think about it plenty of NPC sides had better performing backlines. Taranaki were great, BOP, Tasman.... Plenty of backs coaches got their sides performing better than Razor got the ABs backs performing.

41 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 47 minutes ago

How law changes are speeding up the game - but the scrum lags behind

"the laws are not only for pro players but also amateurs and school players and by rushing scrums lives will be at stake." I think, Rug, that is a very good point to make. And especially at amateur and schools level. That is where the greatest danger lies. Serious mismatches will occur, and that is where one would judge(I don't have any stats. at hand) the serious injuries and deaths occur. Actually at International level I can only recall two serious prop injuries in the past 40/50 years. Ben Darwin and very recently Steven Kitshoff. At this level, props have years of conditioning and technique behind them. The contests are safer, or as safe as it is poosble to be.

47 Go to comments

GP 54 minutes ago

Scott Robertson has to take charge of his All Blacks in 2025

Good points. The on going selection of Reiko at 13 is a bug bear for many. Billy Proctor did not get much of a go. Levi Aumua for Tasman and Dallas McLeod for Canterbury had fine NPC's.The latter got in the NZ 15. They will push on with the Crusaders I believe. There are others. I agree Jordie Barrett will benefit with a season with Leinster. He has a lot to offer long term.

41 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 57 minutes ago

How law changes are speeding up the game - but the scrum lags behind

Regarding the scrum, I would pick up on your point made below, Nick. "....reffing the scrum is not easy at all, prob the single most difficult area in the books." Those of us who have coached the scrum, and /or refereed, would fully agree. And I have read on the pages of rugby forums for years now the opinion of experienced international props. "I could not detect exactly what happened in that particular scrum"

Ofc the problem is heightened when the referee has not played in the pack, has never been in a scrum. It is very clear, at least to me, that many top level referees don't begin to understand the mechanics of the scrum.

I feel the laws are adequate as they stand to a great extent. The problem, as I see it, is that referees right up to top level just don't apply them in the the letter of the law or in the spirit they should .

Any significant downward pressure by a prop to cause a collapse should be penalised. For example look at the scrum clip at 54.49 mins. It is the Leinster LH who forces downwards first, then the Munster TH "pancakes" I believe the Leinster prop is the offender there.

I also think that with most of the wheels in those clips, it was Leinster who are the offenders. That can be hard to pick though in many cases. Another point is the hooker standing up. That was being penalised 3/4 years ago. So Kellaher would have been penalised back then in that first clip at 04.17.

I think the directive should be given now to referees at all levels to stop giving penalties simply because a team is being moved backwards. And the directive should be "order the team with the ball to clear it, and within 3 secs."

It would help if a change was made to remove the option to take another scrum after a penalty is awarded. Must take a tap or a kick.

47 Go to comments

Utiku Old Boy 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson has to take charge of his All Blacks in 2025

Agreed GC.

41 Go to comments

Utiku Old Boy 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson has to take charge of his All Blacks in 2025

Like others, I was underwhelmed by Razor in his first year and couldn't understand why he persisted with players who were out of form. All of a sudden, "experience" was the holy grail for selections and up-and-comers mainly got a shot through injury. I had high hopes after Foster and was disappointed in the lack of clarity in game plan and selection. I think Hamish has articulated what a lot of AB supporters feel and count this year's disappointment due to nerves from the big stage and from "too many voices" in the coaching group. I don't think Razor gets another pass if 2025 is marked by the same reticence, confusion and conservatism.

41 Go to comments

Mitch 2 hours ago

How law changes are speeding up the game - but the scrum lags behind