George Ford In Line To Beat Fin Smith For England Fly-half Berth Against Australia

George Ford is apt to commencement astatine fly-half erstwhile England statesman their autumn internationals run against Australia astatine Twickenham connected Saturday.

The Sale Sharks No 10 enjoyed an outstanding summertime circuit pinch Steve Borthwick’s side, helping to orchestrate 2 victories against Argentina and 1 against nan USA, and appears to person stated a beardown lawsuit for selection.

Fin Smith, whose Northampton broadside apical nan Prem array aft 5 rounds, became established arsenic nan first-choice fly-half during nan Six Nations this twelvemonth earlier embarking connected nan British & Irish Lions circuit of Australia.

However, on pinch his playing ability, nan 32-year-old Ford’s tactical expertise is highly weighted successful nan England camp, and if he starts connected Saturday it could bespeak Borthwick regards him arsenic first-choice for nan Rugby World Cup successful 2027.

The 23-year-old Smith and nan first-choice scrum-half Alex Mitchell play together for Northampton but Ford, who has 102 England caps, brings a different group of skills pinch his perceptive tactical kicking and threat of drop-goals. Sale, successful opposition to nan in-form Saints, are seventh successful nan Prem pinch 2 wins from 5 matches.

Borthwick has a wealthiness of options successful nan back-line and nan Northampton helping Tommy Freeman is being powerfully considered to commencement astatine outside-centre. Mitchell backed his clubmate, who scored 4 tries against Saracens past Friday, to thrive if he switches from nan helping to No 13.

“I deliberation it will beryllium good. He’s a value subordinate who has a batch of facets to his crippled pinch his powerfulness and really he useful successful nan air,” Mitchell said. “His assurance is done nan tile and his shape is amazing. We knew erstwhile he came done nan academy that he’s sewage everything: speed, power, height. He understands nan game. We cognize if he puts that each together he’s 1 hellhole of a player.”

The hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie has welcomed nan “Test-match animal” Tom Curry, his Sale teammate, backmost into nan England fold. Curry has recovered from having room connected a wrist problem aft nan Lions circuit and is successful contention to commencement successful nan backmost statement against nan Wallabies.

“He’s built differently,” said Cowan-Dickie, who will scope 50 England caps if he plays astatine Twickenham. “I deliberation he showed that successful nan Lions. It’s a cliche: ‘He’s a Test-match animal,’ – but he is. For his crippled and intelligence approach, he could person not played for a year, and I’d still put him successful my team.”

Curry appeared six times for nan British & Irish Lions successful Australia but has missed nan commencement of Sale’s home run owed to nan surgery. “He’s a workhorse,” Cowan-Dickie said.

“When you spot it retired connected nan field, half nan clip he’s limping because he’s put his assemblage connected nan line. But he’s still going and you ever provender disconnected that benignant of stuff. He was playing pinch that wrist wounded for ages. He’s different feline who’s mentally tough. It’s ever a prize for maine personally. He’s 1 of these champion back-rowers, if not nan champion back-rower successful nan world truthful I’m buzzing that he’s connected my team.”

Cowan-Dickie has besides endured superior injuries himself since his England debut successful 2015. “I’ve stuck astir – they don’t telephone maine nan cockroach for nary reason,” Cowan-Dickie joked. “I’ve had a batch of injuries. Would I beryllium present coming if I didn’t play done them? Maybe not. I deliberation it’s made maine robust.”

Cowan-Dickie besides said he is continuing to nan consciousness benefits of giving up alcohol. “Loving it – I’ve not thought astir once,” he said. “I don’t cognize really agelong it has been: 17 aliases 18 months, and I consciousness measurement amended for it. My assemblage is amended for it. Touch wood I person not been injured, I person mislaid a spot of weight, and I’m emotion physically better.”