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The Sanderson theory on why George Ford still has his England critics
Alex Sanderson has shared his thoughts on why some people still can’t see the good in the on-song George Ford as the England out-half.
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The recently-turned 31-year-old finished out the Guinness Six Nations with excellent performances versus Ireland and France which were capped by deft handling in the move for the 75th minute Tommy Freeman try in Lyon which he then converted with aplomb from the touchline.
It was the first time since 2017 that Ford had started all five matches in a single Six Nations campaign for his country.
He is now back in Manchester ahead of this weekend’s resumption of the Gallagher Premiership and after his wife gave birth on Tuesday to their new daughter, he is pencilled in for a meeting on Friday where Sanderson plans on asking the No10 how he manages to shrug off the persistent criticism he gets with England.
Asked by RugbyPass to explain why Ford continues to have his detractors despite playing so well for Steve Borthwick’s team, Sanderson said: “You can say the same about Owen Farrell, his predecessor, couldn’t you?
England take the lead with less than five minutes left 🙌#GuinnessM6N #FRAENG pic.twitter.com/J39vI3cyKm
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 16, 2024
“Because he is of a higher standard and at fly-half you open yourself up to more criticism because you have more opportunities to win, lose, influence a game. For every eight people out there, there is a couple who are critics.
“The majority if you were to say George Ford is a good player, his contribution over the World Cup and certainly over the Six Nations, most people would say, yeah, he has been brilliant but there is going to be the haters, the naysayers. It’s difficult to know because I am biased and one-eyed about the man.”
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Does Sanderson ever talk to Ford about how he handled the negativity? “I’m actually going to talk to him about it on Friday. Yeah he does, he talks about committing and believing quite a lot, he talks about the emotional consistency because that’s what we need as a group right now, that’s what he had in that last kick as we know.
“He talks about how you hold yourself, how you prepare but more importantly how as a leader that leads into how you play. So how you hold yourself in and around here at the start of the week by ways of being intentional with his energy and his communication, how he is consistently brilliant in terms of his preparation.
“Like, he is one of the most professional people I know, and there are loads of little things that he does by way of journalling, the reviews that he puts himself in for, the preparation which is consistent so that he is always ready to go on matchday.
“That has been a learned craft over 15 years, He has been professional since 16, was one of the earliest professionals on the game. He joined Leicester at 16. But I am going to ask him again on Friday and I want him to contribute on that because I’m still learning myself and we are as a group.”
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Earlier at the weekly Sale Sharks media briefing ahead of this Sunday’s league trip to Bath, Sanderson explained that Manu Tulagi had told him how England had changed tactics to rev up their Six Nations.
“From my understanding, as a team they shifted that attitude and energy by way of how they wanted to attack. They were a team that were relatively predictable in how they climbed their way up the field through box kicks and the like.
"I have a bottle of wine in the car, I'm off to his house after this to level, to chat with him…"
– Alex Sanderson will catch up with Manu Tuilagi on Wednesday evening after he decided to leave Sale for Bayonne, with Liam Heagney 🎙️ #GallagherPrem #TOP14 #EnglandRugby #rugby pic.twitter.com/pelJd6gq1A
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 20, 2024
“They wanted to bring variety into the game, get the ball in George’s hands more, and then pick the best space whether it be through the hand or off the foot.
“From what I understand George was influential. He still hasn’t been in. He is coming in. He has just had a little daughter on Tuesday, so we have given him a day off. But this is what Manu talked about at the start of the week, they just shifted the focus into getting back and being ready to strike.
“On the back of that, you can pick your option. You can go to foot, you can play through and it just re-energised the team and he [Ford] spearheaded that.
“It was touch and go at the start, whether it was him or Marcus (Smith) or Fin (Smith). All our conversations were, ‘Finally now, maybe I can get a run at the helm’. Over the Six Nations, you saw an increased influence in his game.
“Also, he found his kicking boots again because he hasn’t really been on point since he had his injury. We know that, yet that last kick, under that pressure, shows the person he is.
“It’s not even a talent because even the most talented of people under that kind of pressure buckle and I was made up for him – and made up for us – that he has found his form.”
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
22 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
22 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
44 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
44 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
44 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
7 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
7 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
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