George Ford relishing chance to be 'the man' for England as he steps out of Owen Farrell's shadow

Ford has at least seized control of the England No10 shirt
Nick Purewal9 February 2024

George Ford has never had an extended shot at becoming “the man” for England - at least not like the tantalising opportunity that could now unfold. 

The 30-year-old knows all about battling a friend and fellow generational talent for the right to pilot the England Test team, with all the ups and downs that entails. 

Owen Farrell has stepped away from Test duty of his own volition, handing Ford the chance to step out of the 112-cap former captain’s shadow at fly-half.

Ford will win his 93rd cap when England host Wales in Saturday’s Six Nations showdown at Twickenham, and yet the 30-year-old has never been a regular fixture in the Red Rose line-up. 

Sale star Ford would have had a new almighty tussle for time at 10 on his hands, had Marcus Smith not suffered a calf injury on the eve of this tournament. 

The highly rated Fin Smith is being eased into the Test arena given his tender 21 years, and so Ford finds himself in unchartered territory. The tactical mastermind, who already acts as an auxiliary England attack, has the chance to commandeer the fly-half berth. 

George Ford will earn his 93rd England cap this weekend
Getty Images

Looking back at the same time as plotting England’s course ahead, Ford talked in candid details on the tribulations of a storied career, but also one spent in and out of the Test line-up. 

“Maybe I should have played scrum-half,” quipped the affable but focused Ford. 

“I suppose it is like quarterback in the NFL, the responsibility that comes with it. There is a spot to start and a spot on the bench and it is as clear as that. 

“It heightens your awareness to prepare and to perform. You know you are a critical and crucial part of the team, and you know it can very quickly change. 

“When you don’t play as you would like and you are not in good form, and you don’t get the spot, those moments really test you and show you who you are as a person. 

“When you are not the man, and you have a setback, in that real moment you have a decision to make – do you throw your toys out of the pram, or do you actually say, ‘stuff this’ and come back better from it.” 

“You go through all the emotions: frustrated, disappointed, gutted, angry”

Ford’s poise and maturity has always set him above the pack, even when he was bossing Leicester’s A team as a 15-year-old. 

Despite his level head however, he admitted he has still had the odd moment he would not look back on with total pride. 

“I suppose maybe the one I didn’t deal with the best was the first game of the 2015 World Cup,” said Ford, who started as England won the opener against Fiji, then gave way to Farrell for the match against Wales, as England lost 28-25. 

“I think that was just because it was such a new experience for me. You play the first game of a World Cup in your home country, win with a bonus point and then things change the week after. 

“That was just me being a bit younger and not having experienced it before.” 

Ford produced one of the all-time great England fly-half performances by landing all the points in the 27-10 win over Argentina to open the 2023 World Cup. He would later be replaced Farrell once the captain’s ban was complete. 

Now, in a career first, Ford is embarking on an England tournament without his great friend and rival. 

George Ford is adapting to life without Owen Farrell in the England squad
Getty Images

“It is different; he has been here for so long,” said Ford. 

“He has been our captain, such a massive leader for us and he stamps his authority on our team. So him not being here, of course it is different, but there is always a time when things change. 

“For me and the other leaders, it is now maybe not to try to replicate what it was like with him here.” 

Ford has this chance to steer England in his own direction, and he has not shied away from that long-held ambition. 

“You want to run the team, of course you do,” said Ford. 

“Your responsibility as a 10 is to manage the game, so to do that of course you want to play week on week and build relationships. Going in and out of the team over the years, you go through all the emotions: frustrated, disappointed, gutted, angry. 

“Because it has happened a few times, it allows you to deal with those moments a bit better and stay a little bit neutral about it. When I was younger when you go from starting every week to being dropped, you are rock bottom and it’s a roller coaster ride. 

“Now, you are still angry, gutted, all the emotions, but it is how quickly can you get back to accepting whatever that role is, and how well can you do it.”

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