The last seven months have brought about a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of England fly-half George Ford.
Seven months ago the national team was on its knees. Dumped out of their own Rugby World Cup by Australia and an injury-ravaged Wales, the Red Rose were forced to endure the ignominy of being the first host nation in the competition’s history to fail to emerge from their pool.
Ford started England’s opening game against Fiji but was then dropped for the crucial Wales and Australia defeats in favour of Owen Farrell, the man long deemed a more assured kicker in the No. 10 position.
But just 168 days after their exit, it was Ford leading his side to the Six Nations title and a first England Grand Slam in 13 years.
The clinching 31-21 victory over France in Paris came just three days after the Bath schemer had turned 23 and in a tournament which he had started all five games at No. 10 and played all but 13 minutes.
Criticism is never far away, though.
Just as he was beginning to use the adversity faced in the aftermath of an embarrassing World Cup campaign to his advantage, Ford is at the centre of another media interrogation.
During England’s 27-13 friendly victory over Wales on Sunday, he found himself booed by a section of home supporters at Twickenham.
Ford missed six attempts from seven at goal with the clamour to make Farrell the starting No. 10 for the upcoming Australia tour growing ever stronger. Indeed, head coach Eddie Jones even felt the need to come to his aid following probing post-match questioning.
But dealing with public scrutiny is nothing new to Ford and the England man refuses to allow criticism of both himself and the team affect his game.
“I’m not so sure there was too much criticism of me at the World Cup. It was disappointing to start the first game against Fiji and then not the next two games but that’s the way it is sometimes,” Ford tells Sport360.
“Selection is a very subjective thing and you hopefully do the best thing for the team. The criticism was disappointing but the most disappointing thing was getting knocked out in the pool stages and everyone felt that, so to come back as the same group of players and win the Six Nations, it was a good feeling.
“It’s been a whirlwind few months. First of all there was the World Cup in your own country, one that we underachieved at and we were all gutted about. Then three or four months later we’re winning a Grand Slam at a Six Nations. That’s sport, it’s so up and down. You go from a real low to a real high in just a few months. I think he (Jones) was always going to get a response after the World Cup from the players.
“We stuck together and took it on the chin, which you have to do sometimes. There was a lot of things written and spoken about a lot of players by a lot of people after the World Cup and that’s the way it is.
“To see that through and come back, especially with such a young squad and virtually the same players, was a great achievement.”
Ford’s upbringing in the sport, one unlike many of his colleagues at both club and international level, goes some to way pinpointing where this mental fortitude has come from.
For starters he grew up on a diet of rugby league.
Hailing from Oldham he played in the academies of both Wigan Warriors and Bradford Bulls before switching to union aged 11 and joining Leeds Carnegie.
His dad Mike played rugby league for Wigan, Warrington and Castleford as well as England and Great Britain, while George grew up next door to St Helens legend Paul Sculthorpe, so despite his seemingly diminutive 5’10”, 85kg frame, he is intrinsically tough.
After being dismissed by Bath as head coach last month, Ford Senior has voiced the opinion that his sacking has affected his son’s form. But through his thick Yorkshire accent, it’s clear George has the thick skin required to tackle the challenges ahead of him.
It also helps that Australian Jones, who led Japan so impressively during the World Cup, is a keen fan and has regularly dismissed the ‘Ford or Farrell’ argument by instead building his England team around the dynamic duo.
“It was great to get the run of five games (in the Six Nations). Hopefully that continues but I’ve got to continue working hard,” admits the string-puller. “Eddie makes it very clear that you’ve got to keep on getting better and keep performing so that’s my aim, to keep on top of my game because as soon as you relax and slip you’re going to get caught by other people and lose your position.”
Now, Ford is looking forward to the tantalising summer Test series against the Wallabies as his country’s pivot, even if it is Saracens’ Farrell who takes the lead in the goal-kicking stakes.
“I think the partnership can blossom,” adds Ford. “We’ve only played a few games at 10 and 12 together but the way we want to play is an attacking game, go at them, so to have two 10s in the same team is not necessarily a bad thing.
“One game he (Jones) might think a different option is best and we’re all a squad so we understand that selection will be based upon what Eddie thinks will be able to beat that team at the weekend.”
Regardless of his position, Ford is just looking forward to taking on Australia in their own back yard.
“We understand that it’ll be a step up. Going abroad to tour a team who are playing really well and played brilliantly at the World Cup and are a great team on home soil is a completely different challenge,” says an enthused Ford.
“We’re looking forward to it. We want to make sure we’re in good form and playing well so we can give it a good shot.
“We want to attack teams and play some good rugby and playing in good weather and on good pitches in Australia will help that massively.
“They have the same mind-set and philosophy and there could be some really good match-ups down in Australia. We’ll just have to work hard and see where it takes us.”
Although England comes first, there is a British & Irish Lions tour on the horizon to think about as well. The Lions will face the ultimate test next summer against three-time world champions, New Zealand, and Ford admits it’s something he wants on his CV.
“Obviously it would be amazing to get selected, it’s the ultimate, but there’s a lot of rugby to be played between now and then,” cautions Ford. “There are tours, the Premiership next season, the autumn internationals, next year’s Six Nations so all you can do is play well and see where you end up.
“Everyone wants to get to the top of their game and playing for the Lions is that. Ask any rugby player if they want to play for the Lions and of course it would be yes but you’ve got to go and earn it instead of talk your way into it. “
Against New Zealand too, I think would be the ultimate, it would be amazing.”
