Ford: Drop targets will be ‘great weapon’ for England on the World Cup
Fly-half Ford landed a career-best three drop targets as England dismissed Argentina 27-10 in Marseille to open their Pool D marketing campaign in type on Saturday night time.
Ford pinged six penalties too within the ninth-equal highest factors haul by an England participant in a Test match.
England misplaced Tom Curry to a purple card within the third minute however shook off their newest disciplinary subject to prevail over Michael Cheika’s spooked and edgy Pumas.
Drop targets go out and in of trend in Test rugby, however Ford has introduced them proper again for the 2023 version in France.
And the Sale playmaker admitted England know full effectively the influence the three-pointers can have on this competitors.
“Marcus Smith, Owen Farrell and I practise drop goals every day with Kev[in Sinfield] and Wiggy [Richard Wigglesworth],” mentioned Ford.
“We understand how big they are in general, but especially at World Cups; it is just such a great weapon.
“If you get a penalty you are probably going to go for three more often than not. It is exactly the same.
“In situations like tonight to keep the scoreboard ticking over when you are not necessarily getting penalties every so often, then the drop goal is a great weapon.”
Curry will now face a disciplinary listening to following his purple card, for a head-to-head collision with Pumas full-back Juan Cruz Mallia.
England appeared the staff with the additional man, such was their dominance over a concerningly poor Argentina.
Manu Tuilagi even stepped in at flanker to stage out the scrum, and was praised by his colleagues for his efficiency within the set-piece.
England have been with out suspended duo Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola for the Stade Velodrome encounter, and Curry may now face a ban of his personal.
Vunipola might be accessible to return for the Pool D conflict in opposition to Japan in Nice subsequent weekend, nonetheless. Ford was left in full admiration of England for dealing with their purple card with the best attainable quantity of calmness.
“Well, it’s obviously happened a fair bit to us before,” mentioned Ford. “So it’s the same process, stay calm. What do we need to do? What does the plan look like?
“It honestly didn’t feel like we were a man down at times. It’s unbelievable. The mentality you can have when you are a man down and you don’t make it feel like that.
“It’s probably a big lesson for us, that. Obviously field position for us was crucial. The set-piece was brilliant tonight, and our discipline in defence took a massive step forward. That got us field position to kick points.”
England boss Steve Borthwick might be boosted considerably by a real landmark win for his Red Rose tenure.
The 43-year-old had been underneath growing strain after six defeats in 9 matches previous to the World Cup, however now England can look ahead to a calmer Pool D programme.
Borthwick hailed Ford for his stellar sport administration in Marseille.
“I see his all-round skill set as top class. His ability to run, pass and kick is top class,” mentioned Borthwick.
“His ability to think clearly in the highest pressure circumstances is exemplary.
“He seemed to have more time when he was kicking those drop goals or those high balls, and I think that’s the sign of a really top-quality player.”
Captain Courtney Lawes delivered a monstrous efficiency within the again row, profitable a number of try-saving turnovers as England flexed some severe muscle.
The Northampton back-five ahead was fast to construct on the reward for Ford, including: “He sees things that a lot of players don’t see.
“He’s got to organise a lot of players as well as himself and he did that really well tonight.”