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Gallagher Premiership

George Ford the latest England star targeted by French clubs

By Neil Fissler

31 days ago

George Ford of Sale Sharks walks through a throng of supporters prior to the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Play-Off Semi Final match between Bath Rugby and Sale Sharks at The Recreation Ground on June 01, 2024 in Bath, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

George Ford is the latest England international targetted for a move to France after Clermont Auvergne launched a bid to take him across the English Channel.

Sale Sharks have been locked in talks with the former Leicester Tigers and Bath fly-half and they had been confident of completing a deal to take him through until the next Rugby World Cup.

Clermont – who currently sit in 8th on the Top 14 table – are looking for someone to replace Benjamín Urdapilleta, who is returning to Argentina at the end of the season and are ready to put a spanner in the Sale Sharks bid to keep him.

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Oldham-born Ford, 31, is closing in on winning his 100th test cap and would become unavailable for Steve Borthwick if he decides to take up Clermont’s offer.

But Clermont, who have won three and lost three of their opening six games this season, might not be the only offer on the table, depending on what France star Matthieu Jalibert decides to do when his contract runs out next summer.

Bordeaux Begles are waiting to see if they have been successful in their bid to retain Jailbert’s services before they have a look to see who is available to move to the Stade Chaban-Delmas next season.

Castres are also looking at their options while both Paris clubs Stade Francais and Racing 92 are looking, but a move to the latter is unlikely considering that they signed Ford’s former England team-mate Owen Farrell last summer.

Ford missed England’s summer tour of New Zealand with an Achilles tendon injury and is battling to be fit for the Autumn international programme after suffering a tear to his right quad in the Sharks defeat to Saracens.

Ford didn’t need an operation on the injury and is targetting a return to action in time for England’s opener against New Zealand at Twickenham on 2 November.

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Comments

3 Comments

AA 31 days ago

Agreed Ford should take the money.

Sale scored 10 tries and bonus points in both matches Ford not played.

So regardless of his miraculous control in games they haven't missed him One bit.

Marcus nailed on 10 for England now . Fin back up .

Best go while he can .

MP 31 days ago

The Smiths are the future for England at 10, so he may as well take the cash.

Bull Shark 31 days ago

I hope George Ford moves to France. Would be a great move for him.

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SS 49 minutes ago

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Don't get too excited about your victories over the ABs. 1 point in the RWC, then 4 and 6 in the RC, with an SA try that should never have been given. And they scored 4 tries in one game through your much vaunted defense.

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JW 1 hour ago

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Was Jordie Barretts the first test against B&I Lions? He was outstanding in that and showed the same raw instinct and skills JAS did. He, like Wright, did go on to show he didn't have the experience or the temperament to know when to use them after that of course, I'm not sure that JAS looks like he'll have that same problem.

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SS 1 hour ago

Springboks make 12 changes and move away from 7/1 bench split

I remember the good old days of the All Blacks being able to do that. On our way again, but slowly

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JW 1 hour ago

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I don't think you necessarily want to do that Francisco. Coaching the "gift" out of Jordan Petaia was one of the main reasons for his decline, and no doubt his decision to look to another sport.

Then on top of that you have the picture of three games before you first lions test, so you don't have enough to time to "bed in a more friendly interface" really. You could lean on it by moving the pieces around, and possibly different personal around it, but think it would be more wise to let it play out. It will be hard for Schmidt to hold himself back though.

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Bruiser 1 hour ago

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Canes well past his best. Ardie will shine. He has played 7 all season in Japan

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NH 1 hour ago

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Nice one John. I agree that defence (along with backfield kick receipt/positioning) remains their biggest issue, but that I did see some small improvements in it despite the scoreline like the additional jackal attempts from guys like tupou and the better linespeed in tight. But, I still see two issues - 1) yes they are jackaling, but as you point out they aren't slowing the ball down. I think some dark arts around committing an extra tackler, choke tackles, or a slower roll away etc could help at times as at the moment its too easy for oppo teams to get quick ball (they miss L wright). Do you have average ruck speed? I feel like teams are pretty happy these days to cop a tackle behind the ad line if they still get quick ball... and 2) I still think the defence wide of the 3-4th forward man out looks leaky and disconnected and if sua'ali'i is going to stay at 13 I think we could see some real pressure through that channel from other teams. The wallabies discipline has improved and so they are giving away less 3 pt opportunities and kicks into their 22 via penalty. Now, they need to be able to force teams to turnover the ball and hold them out. They scramble quite well once a break is made, but they seem to need the break to happen first... Hunter, marika and daugunu were other handy players to put ruck pressure on. Under rennie, they used to counter ruck quite effectively to put pressure on at the b/down as well.

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SS 1 hour ago

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GS 2 hours ago

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Head high tackle 2 hours ago

Regardless of the France result Razor's All Blacks have proved something

Graham, if you cant celebrate the wins whats the point of playing the game? I think most would have happily taken 3 from 4 on this tour and winning would be icing but losing just 1 test is still Cake. Its been a season of lost opportunity no matter the result. 3 tests and no real gains from a experience for the newbies perspective. I do get that winning is everything but a few more squad members getting bigger minutes would have been great. Either way, providing the B side doesnt lose to Italy it will be a OK year.

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BH 2 hours ago

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BH 2 hours ago

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Otagoman II 2 hours ago

Jake White: If I was England coach, I’d have been livid

In regards to the obstruction empahsis on kicking, the receiving team has to clear a path to where the ball is going that one of their team is going to take. If the kicking team member runs into another player that will not mean they gain a penalty unless a direct path to the receiver is blocked.

I suspect the change was brought about to make this aspect of the game safer as chasers will not be bumped into creating a dangerous fall for the player leaping. A good example of this was the red card for a French player against the ABs a few years back. He clattered into B Barrett taking his legs from out under him and landing on his neck/head. Upon review for the citing committee they agreed that ALB had checked the French player causing him to go off course and take Barrett out. No suspension resulted and the red card rescinded. The metric to judge the worth of this change is to see if dangerous falls lessen or not.

Thanks for the article.

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Head high tackle 2 hours ago

Scott Robertson explains the new halves pairing for the All Blacks ahead of France

DM should start and have the game decided by the starting 15. I can just see everyone blaming Dmac and Ratima because they come on with 15 to go and cant make up the 2 try deficit they face. Dmac needs to leave. Make the coin whilst he is in his prime.

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SM 3 hours ago

Scott Robertson explains the new halves pairing for the All Blacks ahead of France

BB should be back and he should play the 80,Dmac reminds me of the story about the emperor having no clothes on how he got player of the day ahead of Jordan or J Barrett must be for not losing or maybe coal kicking 🤔

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Hellhound 3 hours ago

Jake White: If I was England coach, I’d have been livid

The English biggest problem is that whole board. They need to change it, because all they've shown is how incapable they are of running a business which ultimately it is.

The players they choose for the team isn't even the best players in England. There is better players out there just as you suggested and I've said in one of my responses.

This was a well written no nonsense article. An eye opener. Let's hope they read your articles. There is a lot they can learn from someone like you. Just don't dare leave my Bulls as a coach. 2 URC Finals and no cigar. You'd better give those boys gas when they screw up. We want that URC title this year👍

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LRB 3 hours ago

Veterans return for All Blacks as team to play France named

Love the username, fu¢king brilliant.! 😁

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OJohn 3 hours ago

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The Tahs are like that. I wouldn't describe Rennie as honorable. He betrayed his own country after all.

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GL 3 hours ago

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Hope BB can survive the French defense and that Abs don't many tricky, corner kicks which BB will not make

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Head high tackle 3 hours ago

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I think last weeks team was stronger except for Taylor. Bench was also stronger combo wise. How DeGroot has gone from best at WC last year, to not in side without even playing this tour, is astounding and Savea hasnt played 7 regularly since Cane became Captain in 2020.

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Head high tackle 4 hours ago

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Id enjoy seeing a break-a-way but could not see that being the reason. Maybe LIV rugby LOL.

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