Nick Cain column: ‘Gutted’ George Ford will soon get his stuffing back in place

George Ford has had a rough few months. Having been given the vote of no-confidence just before England‘s decisive World Cup pool games against Wales and Australia, the young Bath fly-half has said since then that he was “gutted” by the decision.
The fall-out from Stuart Lancaster‘s call to supplant Ford with Owen Farrell is not surprising.
After leading the England backline for the best part of a year, and helping to transform it by seeing in rack up a return of 34 tries in 11 games, Ford had every right to expect to be in the starting line-up for those crucial games.
The 22-year-old does not lack self-belief, but he was left in a spin by a decision which seemed to dismiss most of what he, and England, had achieved in the season leading into the tournament.
He was like a crash dummy with the stuffing knocked out of him after a head-on collision.
Last weekend against Northampton at the Rec the vestiges of that sacking still seemed to loom over Ford, who was unable to dictate terms in the way he normally does – and had a game which he will be glad to put behind him. While his play-making instincts are still intact, his execution lacked its habitual perception and precision.
This saw Ford in the spotlight for the wrong reasons when a clever Saints pincer-movement, with Bath pegged back near their own 22, resulted in him firing a sloppy long pass which presented a gift-wrapped interception to Luther Burrell. With the Bath pack also struggling to give their backs much in the way of quick front-foot ball, there was not much help at hand.
However, despite his struggles Ford still kicked two penalties into the wind and played a part in launching a series of Bath backline raids that eventually saw Semesa Rokoduguni over for a try. There was also a moment in the first half which framed his tenacity, as he raced up to snare Ben Foden deep in the Northampton 22.
This week I asked François Louw, the 45-cap South Africa flanker who has captained Bath on regular occasions, what he thought of Ford.
Louw, who has played back-to-back Northern and Southern Hemisphere seasons in order to represent Bath and South Africa, with barely more than two weeks break after the Springboks semi-final loss to New Zealand, is well qualified to talk about commitment.
Not one for gushing PR plaudits, Louw – who as an outstanding Test openside is also worth listening to about flying-halves – gave this appraisal. “He is a very special player to be so confident in such a commanding role so young. The effort, time and commitment he shows is awesome. It’s all so contagious, and he’s a leader within the squad.”
The grit he alludes to is why Wasps will need their wits about them to deal with Ford when Bath come calling at the Ricoh today in the first leg of their back-to-back European Cup pool five encounter.
Ford has the skills, as well as the intestinal fortitude, to come through his post-World Cup dip and restate his case as the best play-maker and passer in the English game.
How Lancaster persuaded himself otherwise in the build-up to the decisive games against Wales and Australia remains one of the 2015 tournament’s great mysteries.
I do not subscribe to the view advanced in some quarters that Farrell made a strong case for regaining the starting place at 10 in either of those matches.
While his goal-kicking against the Welsh was immaculate, his defence, especially in the build-up to the decisive Gareth Davies try, lacked composure as he raced up twice to create dog-legs. The second, with Brad Barritt then overshooting him, proved fatal.
There was also a lack of conviction about taking the late penalty that could have secured England a draw, resulting in the kick for the corner and failed final line-out drive.
While this was essentially a captaincy decision which could not be laid at Farrell’s door, at no stage did he appear to say that he wanted the kick.
Against Australia the defensive failings were more collective than individual. However, Farrell’s sin-binning with 10 minutes remaining for a no-arms shoulder charge on Matt Giteau stopped any chance of a late rally in its tracks, with Bernard Foley’s resulting penalty giving the Wallabies a 23-13 lead.
Whatever their respective fly-half merits, the Ford-Farrell rivalry will be with us for the foreseeable future.
At the moment Farrell’s impressive form for Saracens may give him a slight advantage, while Ford discovered during the World Cup that selection, like life, is not always fair.
However, he is also a fierce competitor and will want to leave Eddie Jones – who will be at the Ricoh this afternoon – and Wasps, with something to remember him by.