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Dropping George Ford for Rugby World Cup showdown against Australia makes sense, claims Matt Dawson


George Ford will start on the bench against Australia in Saturdays Rugby World Cup quarter final (Picture: Getty)

England World Cup winner Matt Dawson believes Eddie Jones’ decision to drop George Ford ahead of Saturday’s grudge match against Australia was inevitable.

After a two-week break as a consequence of Typhoon Hagibis, England recommence their against the Wallabies with Jones having sprung a major surprise with his team selection.

Ford had been one of England’s most impressive performers during the group stages, but the Leicester Tigers star will start on the bench in Oita, with Owen Farrell back at No.10 alongside Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade.

That is a combination that worked well during the Six Nations and Dawson was not surprised to see Jones revert to a tried and tested midfield engine room.

‘I think England coach Eddie Jones’ decision to move Owen Farrell to fly-half for Saturday’s quarter-final against Australia is the right one,’ Dawson told the BBC.

Owen Farrell will start in his favourite position against Australia (Picture: Getty)

‘In fact, so long as Henry Slade was fit to replace him in the centres, I think it was inevitable.

‘I feel for George Ford, who has started every match of this World Cup at 10, because he has played really well in Japan – but maybe his previous form in the big matches has counted against him.

‘In the handful of huge pressure games at international level in his career he has maybe slightly wobbled.

‘It might be a bit harsh on him because he is further down the line and more confident now. But certainly in the past when he has played in knock-out games with big decisions, I would not have necessarily said he would be my first pick.

‘Farrell, with Manu Tuilagi and Slade outside him was a good combination during the Six Nations.’

It is a combination that the opposition struggled to get any change out of in defence, and which was very threatening in attack.

It shuts down a lot of options for the opposition in terms of where they can attack because Farrell is so solid there – they have got to come up with something different.





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