Tom Curry has revealed the driving force behind George Ford's remarkable return as England's first-choice fly-half, pointing to his teammate's relentless pursuit of excellence as the key factor in his international resurgence.
The making of England's fly-half
According to Curry, who has played alongside Ford for both club and country over several years, the Sale Sharks fly-half's mindset sets him apart from other players. Ford's desire to 'never settle' and 'always want more' has been instrumental in his re-establishment as Steve Borthwick's preferred number ten.
The 32-year-old Ford demonstrated his worth during England's impressive 33-19 victory over New Zealand last Saturday. His boot proved decisive, with two nerveless drop goals keeping the hosts in contention during a tense first half. Beyond the scoreboard, his tactical kicking formed an integral part of England's aerial dominance throughout the match.
Leadership beyond the pitch
Curry, speaking as he helped launch the Allianz Kickstart Programme, was effusive in his praise for Ford's influence both on and off the field. 'What sets him apart as a leader from a lot of other people is that what he says reflects exactly with what he does,' Curry explained.
The flanker highlighted Ford's authenticity as a particularly powerful leadership quality. 'He is one of the most authentic leaders - the way he speaks about the game and how passionate he is about it, that is just him, that is not him trying to be anyone other than himself.'
Curry also noted how Ford's communication skills bridge experience gaps within the squad. 'To get your point across so clearly so that a 100-capper and a 1-capper will both understand what you are saying is a really impressive thing,' he said, referencing Ford's century of international caps achieved during the summer.
Sale connection fuels England success
The club connection between Ford and Curry isn't the only Sale Sharks partnership paying dividends for England. Wing Tom Roebuck has built on a strong start to his international career, capping the All Blacks victory by gathering Henry Pollock's kick to score the final try.
Curry expressed his delight at seeing the 24-year-old seize his opportunity at the highest level. 'He just looks at home in that England shirt,' Curry observed. 'It just looks natural to him, everything looks very easy, which is unsurprising as physically he is so gifted.'
Reflecting on Roebuck's journey from Chester to Sale to international recognition, Curry added: 'I'm so proud of what he has done. To see him go from Chester to Sale to here, to be a part of that journey has been really special. Hopefully there is much more to come.'
Growing the game through grassroots initiative
Curry's comments came as he helped launch the Allianz Kickstart Programme, an initiative designed to introduce primary school children to rugby through a six-lesson programme combining games, cooperative learning exercises and instructional videos.
'It is so important to get teams and people into the game,' Curry emphasised, highlighting rugby's broader life lessons. 'Rugby teaches you that ability to crack on with things even when it is going against you.'
The England star explained that the sport provides valuable social development opportunities. 'You have so many interactions with different sorts of people, so you learn a lot about yourself, how to interact as a team and rely on other people in that team. That is such an important skill.'
As England build momentum following their autumn successes, the leadership qualities exemplified by Ford and celebrated by Curry appear central to the squad's developing identity under Borthwick's management.
