ON THE BLIND SIDE
BY NEIL FISSLER

LEICESTER Tigers are confident of keeping George Ford at Welford Road next season despite reports that he is in advanced talks with Sale Sharks.
Ford, 28, has an option to leave the Premiership pacesetters next summer, and the Sharks are in the market for a fly-half after AJ MacGinty confirmed he is moving to Bristol. Despite being instrumental in the Tigers unbeaten start to the campaign, Ford was dumped by England boss Eddie Jones for the Autumn Internationals.
Jones is giving Harlequins tyro Marcus Smith an extended run in the side, leaving the Pre...