George Ford identifies the real heroes behind Leicester's European success
George Ford has hailed Leicester’s young guns as the Tigers close in on a Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final place.
It is six years since Leicester, European champions in 2001 and 2002, have reached the tournament’s last-eight stage.
But a memorable 29-10 away victory over French heavyweights Clermont Auvergne last weekend means that Ford and company are red-hot favourites to finish the round of 16 job in Saturday’s second leg at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
While the likes of Ford, his half-back partner Ben Youngs and skipper Ellis Genge have showcased their international experience during an impressive European run, Tigers’ new crop of talent can also reflect on making a significant contribution.
Players such as Freddie Steward, Dan Kelly, Jack van Poortvliet and Ollie Chessum – all 21 or younger – are key parts of Leicester’s resurgence under head coach Steve Borthwick.
Steward, Kelly and Chessum have also featured for England during Borthwick’s reign, and played important roles in Tigers’ march to the Gallagher Premiership play-offs.
“They are a great bunch of young lads,” Ford said. “The one thing that makes them stand out the most is the attitude they have got.
“It is the way they go about preparing, trying to improve physically, trying to improve mentally, the questions they ask and just their general attitude.
“Even though things have gone well for them and the team up to this point, they haven’t got ahead of themselves.
“I haven’t seen one little bit or inkling of them getting ahead of themselves, and that is the biggest thing I can say about them because that is unbelievably important and it will be throughout their whole careers.
“We’ve all got great relationships, to be honest, but it is refreshing how eager these guys are to learn.
“I’ve got to say I have never seen a young group like it – all of them, to a man. I am sure they will carry on like that, and that is the biggest compliment I can pay them.”
Youngs, England’s all-time record cap holder, has proved an influential figure in Van Poortvliet’s development and continues starring for club and country, but Ford added: “Ben doesn’t get the respect he deserves, if I am honest with you.
“He is the record holder for the amount of England caps, he still plays to the top of his game week in, week out, and he is an unbelievable guy to play (alongside).
“Ben is not the type of guy who needs people telling him how good he is every day. He is up there with the very best scrum-halves I have played with.
“I just think the consistency that he has shown to do it at the top level for that many years is unbelievable. I don’t think people will realise that until maybe Ben stops playing.”
Four-time European champions Leinster are Leicester’s probable quarter-final opponents if Tigers see off Clermont, which would be another huge day under Borthwick, who has transformed the club since taking charge less than two years ago.
He inherited a squad that only avoided relegation in 2020 because Saracens were demoted for repeated salary cap breaches, and it has proved a spectacular turnaround.
Ford, who will join Sale Sharks next season, said: “It is a lot of hard work. There is no secret formula – I wish I could tell you there was.
“It is doing the basics brilliantly well, it is coming into training with a mindset to improve week on week, and we have a clear identity of the way we want to play the game.
“When Steve heads it up in that way and makes it unbelievably clear, you can throw everything into it as a player and as a group of players to improve.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments