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England fans have their say on the benching of Ford
Eddie Jones has named his England side to face Australia this Saturday in the World Cup quarter-final and it is a case of turning to what he is most comfortable with.
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Mako Vunipola makes his first start since the Six Nations but the most noticeable decision is to drop George Ford and instead use the 10-12-13 combination of Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade that served England so well during the Six Nations this year. This is a decision that has disappointed fans on social media but is not all that surprising.
Jones reprised the Ford-Farrell axis throughout August and the opening stages of the RWC in Slade’s absence and it looked as though Ford had done enough to warrant a starting berth in the big games.
The Leicester Tigers flyhalf has had England’s backline firing, has scored a few tries himself and has shown a masterful tactical kicking game. Although he was not always playing against the highest level opposition, his performance against Argentina was good enough that many would have expected him to start against the Wallabies.
Many fans have pointed out that Ford offers more as a playmaker than Farrell, but the Saracen is more defensively resolute and with Tuilagi at 12, it is a good way to shut down the dangerous Samu Kerevi.
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Tuilagi has proven that he is more potent as a 13, but has equally shown that he has a successful partnership with Slade, which is why Ford has lost out to accommodate Farrell at ten.
It surely came down to very fine margins when selecting the centres and Jones may have simply felt that this was the best combination to face Australia, but some fans have said this has shades of Stuart Lancaster’s selection in 2015.
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When the pressure was on the England team, Lancaster reverted to Farrell to start and used Ford as a luxury from the bench.
Eddie Jones has sprung a surprise on the eve of @EnglandRugby's World Cup quarterfinal. https://t.co/4l1zE9gdZ5 #RWC2019 #ENGvAUS
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 17, 2019
This is something that Jones has also done during his tenure, but he stressed the importance of Ford’s role as a finisher. He said: “We have a starting and a finishing team so he’s going to finish for us instead of starting. I spoke to him this morning and obviously he’s disappointed but he knows his role in the team.”
It is for this reason that some fans are not wholly surprised with this decision, as it is something that Ford has had to contend with throughout his England career. This is what has been said:
I think it is mistake dropping Ford. He is a better playmaker than Farrell and Slade hasn’t had enough game time to come in to such a huge game. That midfield was not fantastic in the 6 Nations either. Very nervous now. #AUSvENG
— Dom M (@dommoore31) October 17, 2019
Completely wrong call. Genuinely if I was to drop anyone in the backline, it would be Farrel based on form both here and in the warm ups.
— Tom Tremlett (@TTburgundy) October 17, 2019
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Ford dropped and replaced with out of form Farrell?? EJ has gone 2015 Lancaster on the team.
— Tim Tait (@tim_tait) October 17, 2019
Wow! What happened to the Ford/Farrell axis? Ford has been our standout player so far…or was the plan always to do this once we hit the knock out stages to fuck with Australia, All Blacks & Springboks?
— Matthew (@Boisey31) October 17, 2019
Eddie has done a Lancaster & bottled it at 10. @George_Fordy has been the standout fly half during RWC. I suspect Jones fears that Faz can’t cope in defence against their 12- if so he should be benched not Ford. Really annoyed.
— Tom Finn-Kelcey (@TFinnKelcey) October 17, 2019
@George_Fordy has been one of the stand out players of the RWC. Very strange decision from Eddie Jones but sadly not a surprising one.
— David Dyer ?? ?? ? (@dyer145) October 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/ABarrettWrites/status/1184732374053068800?s=20
Liking this team. Hard on Ford, but it was Farrell at 10 and Slade at 13 when England beat Australia last year. Teo was the other centre that day. https://t.co/Hs11gnaXOX
— Nick (@Winn1) October 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/BromheadLt/status/1184676526513520640?s=20
Faz at 10 makes sense, despite how good Ford has been. Absolutely stunned, however, that Nowell isn't on the bench.
— Eddie Stephens? (@EddieStephenss) October 17, 2019
Over the past seven years, Farrell has proven himself to be one of England’s, and indeed world rugby’s most dependable players.
He had an unusually poor game against Argentina with the boot but with more pressure, his performances only improve. Jones and all England fans will hope that is the case this Saturday in Oita.
WATCH: What fans coming to Oita can expect at night during the World Cup quarter-finals
Comments on RugbyPass
Sly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
9 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
9 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
9 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
9 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
9 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to comments