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george fordAccording to long-time teammate Tom Currie, his desire to ‘never compromise’ and ‘always want more’ are key factors behind his re-establishment as England’s first-choice fly-half.
Ford’s boot was important England wins 33-19 over New Zealand On Saturday, he kept the hosts in contention with two nervy drop goals in the first half and his tactical kicks were integral to his team’s aerial tactics.
The 32-year-old, who earned his 100th cap in the summer, has an equally valuable impact off the field and Curry praised the player he has worked closely with for club and country over the years.
“What sets him apart as a leader is that what he says is reflected in what he does,” he said. “He is never satisfied and he always wants more.
“There have been times when he has asked me to speak more as a leader but you know it’s coming from a good place because it reflects his personal values and how he runs it.
“He’s one of the most authentic leaders, the way he speaks about the game and how passionate he is about it, it’s just him, he’s not trying to be like anyone else other than himself.
“That’s why it’s so powerful when he speaks. He’s very articulate – and the Northern accent also adds a bit of grit and determination to what he’s saying.
“To be able to get your point across so clearly that both a 100-capper and a 1-capper can understand what you’re saying is really impressive.”
Ford and Curry are not the only Sale players to have played a key role in England’s autumn success, with Tom Roebuck making a strong start to his international career.
The wing put the cherry on the cake against the All Blacks by collecting Henry Pollock’s kick to score the final try and Currie was delighted to see the 24-year-old take advantage of his opportunity.
“He looks absolutely at home in an England shirt,” he said. “It seems natural to him, everything seems very easy, which is not surprising because physically he is very talented.
“I’m so proud of what he’s done. Watching him go from Chester to Sale, being part of that journey has been really special. Hopefully there’s more to come.”
Currie was speaking at the launch of the Allianz Kickstart programme, an initiative designed to introduce primary school children to rugby.
The six-lesson program includes a combination of exciting games, cooperative learning exercises, and videos to help children discover the game.
“It’s very important to get teams and people involved in the game,” Curry said.
“Rugby teaches you the ability to deal with things, even when things are going against you.
“You have a lot of interactions with different types of people, so you learn a lot about yourself, how to interact as a team and how to trust other people on that team. It’s such an important skill.”
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