Rugby World Cup: England’s Ford calls drop-goals a ‘crucial weapon’
English flyhalf kicks three drop-goals in 10 minutes in a 27-10 victory over Argentina
10 September 2023 - 18:42
by NICK SAID
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
George Ford of England kicks a second-half penlaty during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between England and Argentina at Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France, September 9 2023. Picture: DAVID ROGERS/GETTY IMAGES
Marseille — Drop-goals are not usually a big part of a team’s armoury, but in tight Rugby World Cup contests can be a “crucial weapon” according to England flyhalf George Ford after he kicked three in 10 minutes in a 27-10 victory over Argentina on Saturday.
Having lost flanker Tom Curry to a red card inside three minutes, England put on a master class of defensive organisation and forward control to win comfortably.
They were aided early on by the trio of drop-goals from Ford that moved them into a 12-3 lead and transferred the pressure onto the South American side.
“The crucial one was the third one, which took us more than seven points ahead,” Ford said. “In a tight game where it is hard to move the ball and score tries, to get more than seven ahead was big for us.”
Ford said all the England flyhalves practice drop-goals at every training session in preparation for games like Saturday’s clash in Marseille.
“We have the nines [scrumhalves] pass us the ball and get the boys to put pressure on us to make it as realistic as possible,” he said. “It is such a crucial weapon and we have seen before how influential they are at World Cups.”
SA flyhalf Jannie de Beer kicked a tournament record five drop-goals to beat England in the quarterfinals in 1999 and Ford equalled the best previous mark for his team set by Jonny Wilkinson against France four years later.
“Five is a lot, isn’t it, but I thought I was on track at one point,” he joked. “We were laughing in the changeroom, out of this squad [scrumhalf] Danny Care was the guy with the most drop-goals for England. I thought I had to put an end to that.”
Ford added that the warm conditions and World Cup ball are conducive to kicking.
“I think the temperature makes a massive difference. The ball is also different from the one we use in the Premiership. I am not sure what it is but it travels a lot faster in the air and a lot further.”
Ford landed all his drop-goal attempts and kicked six from six off the tee for a perfect performance. “That is the life of a kicker, some days you can’t hit a barn door, others everything goes over,” he said.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Rugby World Cup: England’s Ford calls drop-goals a ‘crucial weapon’
English flyhalf kicks three drop-goals in 10 minutes in a 27-10 victory over Argentina
Marseille — Drop-goals are not usually a big part of a team’s armoury, but in tight Rugby World Cup contests can be a “crucial weapon” according to England flyhalf George Ford after he kicked three in 10 minutes in a 27-10 victory over Argentina on Saturday.
Having lost flanker Tom Curry to a red card inside three minutes, England put on a master class of defensive organisation and forward control to win comfortably.
They were aided early on by the trio of drop-goals from Ford that moved them into a 12-3 lead and transferred the pressure onto the South American side.
“The crucial one was the third one, which took us more than seven points ahead,” Ford said. “In a tight game where it is hard to move the ball and score tries, to get more than seven ahead was big for us.”
Ford said all the England flyhalves practice drop-goals at every training session in preparation for games like Saturday’s clash in Marseille.
“We have the nines [scrumhalves] pass us the ball and get the boys to put pressure on us to make it as realistic as possible,” he said. “It is such a crucial weapon and we have seen before how influential they are at World Cups.”
SA flyhalf Jannie de Beer kicked a tournament record five drop-goals to beat England in the quarterfinals in 1999 and Ford equalled the best previous mark for his team set by Jonny Wilkinson against France four years later.
“Five is a lot, isn’t it, but I thought I was on track at one point,” he joked. “We were laughing in the changeroom, out of this squad [scrumhalf] Danny Care was the guy with the most drop-goals for England. I thought I had to put an end to that.”
Ford added that the warm conditions and World Cup ball are conducive to kicking.
“I think the temperature makes a massive difference. The ball is also different from the one we use in the Premiership. I am not sure what it is but it travels a lot faster in the air and a lot further.”
Ford landed all his drop-goal attempts and kicked six from six off the tee for a perfect performance. “That is the life of a kicker, some days you can’t hit a barn door, others everything goes over,” he said.
Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Pride prevails despite defeat for debutants Chile
Rugby unites again at mega World Cup opener in Paris
Boks’ Snyman ready to go full heavy metal again
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.