\n<\/p>\n
Ford thanks his rugby league roots in part for that ability. Growing up in a village outside Oldham, he had offers from Wigan, Warrington and Bradford to join their youth set-ups.<\/p>\n
In the 13-man code, defences are more set, but there are more passages of play. In those teenage league games, there was a high premium on Ford spotting mismatches and plenty of practice for him to do so.<\/p>\n
Years of repetition sharpens up the accuracy and streamlines the process. <\/p>\n
At Test level there are only a couple of seconds amid the chaos for each decision to be made.<\/p>\n
England head coach Steve Borthwick has taken a little longer to settle on Ford as his number one number 10.<\/p>\n
Ford kicked all 27 points in England’s opening-game win over Argentina at the 2023 World Cup, but was a bit-part bench option by the time the knockout stages came round.<\/p>\n
With Owen Farrell opting out of international duty at the following Six Nations, Ford started all five matches at 10.<\/p>\n
Injury then gave Marcus Smith the chance to supplant Ford in the pecking order on the 2024 tour of New Zealand, before Fin Smith emerged in last year’s Six Nations.<\/p>\n
But eight starts in the past nine Tests – Ford was rested for the autumn win over Fiji – represents his longest run as England’s starting fly-half in six years.<\/p>\n
He is relishing the stage it has returned him to.<\/p>\n
“When you’re in the Six Nations, you feel like you’re playing in a special tournament,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Any opportunity you can get going to Murrayfield, Cardiff, Dublin – it is such a showpiece event.<\/p>\n
“As a player, what an amazing thing to be a part of – and go and win and have that memory.<\/p>\n
“That is why we work so hard in the week to try and do that.”<\/p>\n
In the week, in the moment, in years past and in the Pilates studio. Ford is drawing strength from them all.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n