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Analysis: The evolution of George Ford

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George Ford has always been a triple threat flyhalf, capable of splitting defences with his kicking, passing, or running game. But the perceived rivalry between him and Owen Farrell, friends since childhood, meant the latter two aspects tended to get more notice.

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It was Ford’s vision, his breathtaking ability to play flat on the line before jinking through or releasing an unnoticed teammate that separated him from Farrell. His older friend, meanwhile, was the one with the kicking game.

This was too simplistic then and far too so now, as the two players have matured and expanded their respective games. Ford was always able to drop a goal on the proverbial sixpence, always looking for a cross-kick to circumvent the opposition’s defence, always alert to the opportunity of a drop goal.

Recently, Eddie Jones’ desire to stack his backline with kicking options has meant this aspect of Ford’s game has received more notice, as he, Farrell, Elliot Daly, and Henry Slade all present triple threats in attack.

But Ford has developed other aspects to his game too. More and more he is becoming one of England’s leaders, noticeable for the support he gives to teammates in adversity rather than the assists in attack.

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In the opening rounds of the Six Nations, in difficult conditions and underwhelming performances, he has shown what else he has added to his game.

Le Crunch

A fervid Stade de France, inclement weather, and an inspired young French team are not the easiest conditions to star as a fly half, especially not when your pack is on the back foot and your best carrier in the backline goes off early.

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And Ford didn’t star — like his teammates, he struggled. Last year in this fixture, he had been able to embarrass the French back three at will with his kicking. This time, however, he faced the commanding Anthony Bouthier, whose time playing in Brittany in the French lower divisions seemed to have perfectly prepared him for such an event. Time and again, Bouthier claimed Ford’s kicks with ease. In many ways, the contest between the two was summed up as Ford helplessly chased Bouthier’s now viral spiral clearance.

The conditions and the seeming panic in England’s ranks also didn’t help, with teammates repeatedly dropping passes or overrunning opportunities. The English debutant fullback, George Furbank, did not settle in with the ease of his opposite number and the lower level of cohesion in the backs showed.

And yet, for all that, there were plenty of moments that showcased Ford’s contribution to this England side. This restart, for Daly, is weighted perfectly and allows the wing to push the French player into touch with the ball.

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From the resulting lineout, Ford gets Manu Tuilagi over the gainline, hinting at what England might have been capable of throughout the game if their power runners had been available (Tuilagi went off injured shortly after).

His kick at the start of the second half was also perfectly weighted, finding touch in deteriorating conditions as England chased a 17-0 deficit.

Perhaps his most noteworthy contribution, however, was in the two fights that broke out between the sides. On both occasions, Ford could be seen separating opponents, calming players, engaging in banter with referee Nigel Owens to diffuse the situations. England have a reputation for losing their heads but Ford seems very much capable of keeping his as they do so.

The Calcutta Cup

That was noticeable again in the match at Murrayfield. This time, the crowd was just as fervid and the opposition equally ramped up but the conditions were significantly worse. So much so, in fact, that the entire game felt like a hostage to fortune. Playing rugby in weather like that is a test of character and game smarts as much as anything else.

England’s tactic of relinquishing possession and asking the forwards on their 6/2 bench to make the difference paid off in a forgettable game. Time and again, kicks went astray, occasionally blowing back towards the kicker. It was the type of match where kicking for touch was a safer decision than going for the points, even from a good field position.

In the middle of a literal storm, Ford managed to execute some pretty perfect kicks (although he also had one blown back). Early on, he engaged in some kick tennis with Stuart Hogg.

Both players claimed their first ball comfortably but his return here is positioned brilliantly, hanging just outside of the Scottish 22 so Hogg cannot call the mark but close enough to keep him thinking about it. Hogg is unable to take the ball and England gain a significant territorial advantage, crucial in such conditions.

This low-weighted effort for touch was perfect and, considering Scotland’s lineout struggles throughout the match, was an excellent decision.

The only try of the game was scored in the final quarter, pushed over by Ellis Genge but the position was gained by another excellent kick from Ford, forcing Hogg into another error and gaining England a 5m scrum.

Perhaps more importantly, however, he worked hard to support Furbank, repeatedly dropping back as cover and taking responsibility for clearing. This is not necessarily unusual — fly halves often cover the backfield and the weather made it a sensible strategy — but it was also emblematic of the way Ford tried to support his teammates throughout.

Rather than expose Furbank to the conditions or the possibility of a poor kick with immediate consequences, he stepped up and took on the responsibility himself. Elsewhere, he could be seen cheering on his forwards, celebrating penalties, and constantly shouting encouragement over the wind.

In a game where character was tested so severely, Ford was once again determined to do everything to help his teammates. Farrell and Maro Itoje are the obvious talismans of this England side, leading from the front, but Ford is quietly becoming the mental glue of the team, holding everything together.

We’ve seen this before

These developments are part of an ongoing process. Ford is not the type of player to rest on his laurels but one to constantly seek improvement. Indeed, in the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup, Ford’s kicking game was imperious, tormenting England’s opponents and setting him up as the standout fly half of the tournament.

He played a finishing role in the quarter-final against Australia, where his kicking game comfortably kept the Wallabies out, and was then brought back into the starting lineup against New Zealand, which was to be England’s best performance in years.

England
George Ford and Owen Farrell (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

In that match, he demonstrated how much he has worked on his all-round game, catching the eye for the simple things more than those mazy runs of his youth. He made 13 tackles in that game, missing only two, and his rip of the ball from New Zealand prop Nepo Laulala set up one of many promising England attacks, albeit in a manner we are not used to from Ford.

He also took over kicking responsibilities from Farrell, cooly kicking four from four. It is easier to perform well when everyone around you is doing so but it is the additional areas where Ford stepped up that are noteworthy.

Ford is still a triple threat flyhalf. A defensive line that doesn’t take him seriously is one that is very likely to be breached. But he has added so many other strings to his bow: tackling, turnovers, and leadership among them. As England work to become a team that can conquer adversity in the middle of games, Ford is likely to become increasingly important.

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Jon 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 3 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

15 Go to comments
A
Adrian 5 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

15 Go to comments
T
Trevor 8 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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