Borthwick hails England fly-half as the ‘standard’ and a ‘role model’

GEORGE FORD was rewarded for taking Six Nations rejection on the chin by getting first crack at securing the England No.10 shirt ahead of the next World Cup.

- BY ANDY HATHAWAY

Ford was in camp for the entire tournament in the spring but had only 28 minutes off the bench in the final game, a 68-14 rout of Wales in Cardiff.

The 32-year-old, nailed on as a coach of the future, refused to sulk and threw himself into preparing the team for games and leading training in the week.

Ford has amassed 102 caps since his debut in 2014 but often been left on the shelf over the years with the likes of Owen Farrell, Marcus Smith, Fin Smith and Danny Cipriani preferred at times.

But he has never thrown his toys out of his pram.

And head coach Steve Borthwick (circle, above) used the example of Ford’s selflessness when addressing the squad after picking the Sale man in the side’s pivotal position for Saturday’s clash with Australia.