08 December 2023 , 11:59
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George Ford is a better player for his World Cup experience and has yet to hit his peak, Sale boss Alex Sanderson has told England.
Owen Farrell’s non-availability for the Six Nations has head coach Steve Borthwick in need of a fly-half and playmaker. Ford is the obvious choice given his 91 caps and decade in and around the national team but he will be 34 come the next World Cup.
The start of a new four-year cycle serves up opportunities for the next generation with No.10 starlets Marcus Smith and Fin Smith heading the queue.
Sanderson would be expected to back his man, but does so pointing out that Ford continues to grow in influence almost by the day.
“Since coming back from the World Cup George has been more authoritative than he even was in the past,” said the Sharks gaffer.
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“He has such a presence around the place. So much so we’ve been looking at how he can delegate more, ask more of others, to take some of the load off him.
Ford spearheads Sale's attack at home to Stade Francais in Sunday's Champions Cup opener“Because seemingly the more you put on him the more he’s able to shoulder. That’s what I took from the World Cup. He has 91 caps but he hasn’t reached his limit, still.”
It would be a stretch to say Ford singlehandedly turned around England’s fortunes in France, given rugby is a team game, but his dominant display in the pivotal pool game against Argentina had a transformative effect.
England had come into the World Cup on the back of four defeats in five games and without Farrell, serving a ban for foul play, were given little chance against the Pumas.
Ford lands one of his three drop goals against Argentina during England's opening World Cup pool win in Marseille (Getty Images)Ford’s 27-point display, including a first-half hat-trick of drop goals, not only won the game for a team playing all but three minutes a man short, it provided the momentum which carried England to the semi-finals.
Sanderson said: “I think everyone would agree, George’s influence was pivotal in turning England’s fortunes around because first you’ve got to win, you’ve got to get back that winning mentality, get back that bit of confidence.
“It wasn’t pretty, it was pragmatic but it was comprehensive. Once they did that Borths [Borthwick] went back to type and started to grow the game a little bit more.”
Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson (David Rogers/Getty Images)Sale will need every ounce of Ford’s influence given their Champions Cup draw in a pool containing La Rochelle and Leinster, finalists for the last two years.
Farrell, meanwhile, returns to action for the first time since his England withdrawal with Ben Youngs railing the online abuse aimed at his Red Rose team mate.
"I think he has been so unfairly treated," Youngs told BBC Radio Leicester. "He has given everything that he can for his country. He should be celebrated.
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The British and Irish Lions will face Argentina in Dublin ahead of their 2025 tour of Australia (AFP via Getty Images)“It is really unfortunate that he wasn't and that he had to deal with the situation he had to deal with.”
The British and Irish Lions are to play a first ever fixture in Ireland when they take on Argentina in Dublin in June 2025 ahead of the tour of Australia.