George Ford's Remarkable Rebirth: From England Periphery to Future Coach Candidate
In November of last year, during what appeared to be a routine pre-match press conference, England head coach Steve Borthwick made a striking prediction. Known for his measured and logical approach, Borthwick typically avoids emphatic declarations, preferring careful consideration before speaking. However, on this occasion, he expressed absolute certainty about one individual's future.
"I wouldn't be in any way surprised to say he'd be England coach at some point in the future," Borthwick began, before adding with conviction, "I think he will be, if that's where he chooses to go." The subject of this bold forecast was George Ford, the England fly half experiencing a career renaissance and proving himself as England's versatile player for all seasons.
The Analytical Mind Behind England's Success
Ford's analytical capabilities have long fascinated teammates and coaches alike. His exceptional ability to identify and define emerging trends in rugby has been crucial to England's success throughout his international career, which will reach twelve years at the beginning of March. The thirty-two-year-old has navigated the evolving rhythms of Test rugby with remarkable adaptability.
When discussing current tactical developments this week, particularly the increasing importance of contestable kicking, Ford's insightful analysis reveals exactly why he has accumulated one hundred six caps and continues to add to that impressive total. His deep understanding of the game's nuances sets him apart as both player and potential future coach.
A Tactical Evolution and Mindset Shift
"I think the key shift has been what you do when you get it back," Ford explains with characteristic depth. "Are you getting an opportunity to? Because there's no point just kicking the ball and getting the ball and not doing anything with it and kicking it again, for example."
He continues, "I must say, that has been a big mindset shift in the world of rugby, but for us especially. The reason we are kicking so much is to then go on and attack and score tries and move the ball and give our X-factor players some space to go and entertain because that's what we want to do, entertain and score tries."
"The key thing being the mindset shift of why we're doing it and more importantly, you've still got to be good enough to go and do the next bit which is going to be dangerous, and I think we are carrying on to improve that area."
From Fringes to Central Role
The George Ford of today retains the youthful appearance of the twenty-year-old debutant from years past, though his recent adoption of pilates reflects a body beginning to acknowledge its age. The past twelve months have represented a remarkable journey for Ford, who fought his way back from the periphery to reclaim a central role in the England squad.
Having been largely overlooked during last year's Six Nations in favor of Fin Smith and Marcus Smith, Ford found himself on the fringes. Even during this period, however, Borthwick emphasized his importance in preparing the squad and setting standards. While missing out on the British and Irish Lions tour was disappointing, this period ultimately served as a catalyst for Ford's rebirth.
The absence of the Smith brothers, who toured Australia with the Lions, provided Ford with an opportunity to establish himself as the starting fly half during England's matches in Argentina and the USA last July. Since securing that position, he has maintained his grip on the starting shirt with consistent performances.
Communication and Connection On and Off the Pitch
Ford possesses a distinctive clarity of communication that benefits England both during matches and in preparation. "When you get around to game day, you always bring it back to that but we are a team that thrives off that mindset or mentality," he explains. "We want to be on the front foot, we want to go at the opposition on both sides of the ball, at set-piece time and with our kicking game. That's what we feel brings the best out of us."
This communication extends beyond verbal exchanges. "When you're playing in front of 80,000 at Twickenham or a packed Murrayfield, it's impossible to hear someone on the other side of the field. We're kidding ourselves if we think that. A lot of it is around the connection we can build... eye contact, Henry Arundell on the wing putting his hand up so we know we can go to him, understanding where each other is going to be and how we can use each other."
Ford elaborates further, "In the close-quarter stuff, the communication is massive. When you're around people defensively or when I'm in and around the ruck you can obviously give really good communication but anything a bit further out is a bit more challenging. The relaying of information is important...someone like Fraser Dingwall is amazing at that. He'll listen to Tommy Freeman or Henry or Freddie [Steward] or Tom Roebuck and then relay it in. What the good teams do is then go and execute off the back of it."
Progress Tested at Murrayfield
Ford believes this tactical clarity represents the area where England has shown the most significant improvement during their current run of twelve consecutive victories. Their upcoming trip to Murrayfield will provide another stern examination of this progress, at a venue that has presented unique challenges to England throughout Ford's career.
In 2018, Scotland flanker Ryan Wilson later revealed he had threatened to break Ford's bones during a pre-match tunnel confrontation, requiring Owen Farrell's intervention. This incident set the tone for a Scottish performance that shifted the narrative surrounding the Calcutta Cup rivalry.
"Long time ago that," Ford says dismissively when reminded of the incident. "I can't remember that to be honest." When asked about the need to expect unexpected challenges, he responds, "The most important thing is the game. Our learning would be how engaged can we be to be ready for anything? They're a team that can be unpredictable and have threats across the field. In terms of our concentration and engagement this week, we've got to be at 100 percent. We've got to be alive."
Preparing for Every Scenario
Ford credits Borthwick's training methods with enhancing England's preparedness. "Since Steve came in, he's always thrown situations and scenarios at us in training. He wants us to think clearly of what we would do in those moments, but then most importantly, how can we get that message across to go and execute that as a team."
"With the scenarios in training, the likelihood of that exact scenario happening in a game is not that high. But because you are thinking that way and practicing, it does give you a better chance of doing it in the game."
This emphasis on tactical preparation and clear thinking reflects the qualities that have made Ford such a valuable asset to England and suggests why Borthwick sees coaching potential in his future. As Ford continues his international career resurgence, his analytical approach and communication skills position him not just as England's current fly half, but potentially as a future leader of English rugby from the coaching box.
