Breakdown - Why George Ford Holds the Key Against Ireland

Another apology is due here, since I had intended to get this article up about 5 days ago, but oh no, my actual full-time job (the one that actually pays me) had to dictate that I work hard for once.  The nerve.  Anyway, we're here now, and so I thought I'd show why I think that one moment against Italy showed why George Ford is going to be crucial to England's chances in Dublin later today.

For once, pretty much all the noises made in relation to the England centre partnership have been positive of late.  Quite rightly, Jonathan Joseph has been picking up plaudits from all corners of the country for two scintillating performances, and his centre partner Luther Burrell has been solid inside him - although there are murmurings that his hard-running role would be better filled by Manu Tuilagi, if the Leicester man ever makes it up from the treatment table.  But they will face a much more robust challenge on Sunday - Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne may not have quite hit the attacking heights they have done for their club, but they have been rock steady in defence.  It will take some smart and cunning with the ball in hand to get through the middle, and George Ford demonstrated how he can be the architect of creating that space a fortnight ago.

Off first phase, Ford received the ball of Twelvetrees, behind a blocking line from Burrell, to effectively put him in the situation as shown below.  Ford (white 10) is drifting across the pitch with the ball in hand, with Anthony Watson (white 15, although technically he should be 14) out wide and Joseph (white 13) lurking menacingly behind the fly half.

The red lines indicate running direction, whilst the yellow lines indicate line of sights.  You can see Masi (blue 12) and Morisi (blue 13) both drifting across, and both keeping an eye on Ford to see what he's going to do.  If Ford was to hit Watson now, Morisi simply drifts across and hits his man and, in a similar fashion, if he was to bring Joseph 'round the corner' at this point, Masi has time to drift and cream the runner as well, or Morisi can step in.  No deception, no danger.

It's the next 1 second where Ford creates the space though.  He throws a dummy out to Watson, sending Morisi stepping across, thinking that the ball will be on the Bath flyer in a flash and, crucially, focuses his line of sight on the full back.  A gap starts to appear.

Of course, if Ford was to hit Joseph now, Masi would still clatter the centre.  So Ford straightens his line, fixes Masi, and puts Joseph scorching through the gap for his second score.

In just one second, in almost one motion, Ford created space where there was none - and it's that sort of wizardry England will need this afternoon.


PS.  A rare first phase score is always a treat.  As the bloke from the A-Team says, "I love it when a plan comes together".