George Ford says Rugby World Cup darlings Japan are no different to England in playing to the strengths of their squad.
A week after England’s brand of rugby was labelled “boring” by the captain of Argentina, Japan wowed the world with the speed and sheer daring of theirs.
So thrilling was their play in adding Scotland’s scalp to that of Ireland to reach their first ever World Cup quarter-final that fans are still catching their breath.
“I thought they were brilliant,” England fly-half Ford agreed. “I think they have been throughout the whole World Cup.
“The way they play is quick, they move the ball to space and they can also carry, are good at the breakdown, can slow it down and kick at the right time.
“I was really impressed with how controlled and accurate they were. They obviously play to their strengths and that is no different to us. It’s about maximising your strengths whatever you believe they are.”
Before their most recent game against Argentina, Pumas captain Agustin Creevy said of England: “I think sometimes [their structure] is boring. They are really structured but it’s good for them, it works.”
And ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final against Australia, scrum coach Neal Hatley confessed: “I do sometimes like five 5-metre scrums in a row and a few driven lineouts.
“That’s the beauty of our game,” he added. “There’s a role for all sorts. It’s how you maximise the strength of the players you’ve got that’s key.”
Having seen Japan’s levels of skill and the freedom with which it is expressed, some will wonder why England have not come close to such high-octane play out here. They are not short of x-factor talent themselves.
“We do things a little bit differently,” came the reply from Hatley, who spent time with Japan coaches Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown in the England camp during the Six Nations.
“It’s like getting to 10 – you can do five plus five or seven plus three. Japan go seven plus three, we might go different.
“They have a different way of looking, a different way of thinking. It doesn’t make it right, it’s just a different approach.”
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As England learned to their cost in 2015 it is results, not style of play, that teams are ultimately judged on in World Cups.
At this stage four years ago they had checked out of their Manchester hotel and departed the tournament in humiliation.
“That seems a long time ago now,” said Ford. “Obviously we’re in a bit of a different position now and we want to make the most of it.
“We understand the challenge ahead of us and how we have got to prepare for it. It is on us lads to really get hold of this week tactically, but also make sure we peak on Saturday.”
Billy Vunipola and Jack Nowell are injury doubts, having not trained fully. England name their team on Thursday.