Former England fly-half Toby Flood has thrown his full backing behind George Ford, proclaiming him the top fly-half on the planet right now. Despite Ford's glaring omission from the British and Irish Lions squad, Flood insists that Ford's prowess is undeniably elite, underscoring a somewhat ironic twist in the recent Lions' selections.
Flood, in his candid revelations, expressed his thoughts on England's performance and the emerging talents. “I thought they played really well and looked really sharp. George Ford was George Ford; he’s probably been as good a 10 in the world for a decent stretch now and probably doesn’t get the recognition,” he stated. This acknowledgment comes amidst discussions on team dynamics and selections, especially concerning the Lions.
"It’s unbelievably ironic because we had the two lads, Fin and Marcus, on a Lions tour, then suddenly they get usurped by a guy who’s playing, technically, a tier down."
Flood pointed out the controversial decision to include Owen Farrell in the Lions, despite his recent inactivity in rugby. “If I were either Fin or Marcus Smith, I would be annoyed that Owen, a guy who hasn’t played rugby for two years, comes in and sits on a bench. That’s wrong because he’s not going to be on the next Lions tour,” Flood remarked, emphasizing the missed opportunity for younger talents like Fin Russell and Marcus Smith to gain valuable test match experience.
Discussing the broader coaching landscape, Flood praised Andy Farrell's approach. “I’ve always admired Andy Farrell – he gets the best out of people. He has a way and a mannerism to make people understand what the requirements are. He fits being an international coach really well because you can only bang the drum so many times in the manner he does,” he noted.
Looking ahead to the Six Nations, Flood shared his insights, highlighting the potential of various national teams. “I’m intrigued by France, because they didn’t do what they should have done in New Zealand. Ireland are getting close to the cusp of having peaked as a side,” he observed, while also acknowledging the challenges and opportunities for England, Wales, and Scotland in fostering national rugby spirit and competitive edge.
With the rugby world ever-evolving, the dialogues around player selection, coaching strategies, and national team prospects continue to stir engaging discussions among fans and experts alike.
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Former England fly-half Toby Flood has thrown his full backing behind George Ford, proclaiming him the top fly-half on the planet right now. Despite Ford's glaring omission from the British and Irish Lions squad, Flood insists that Ford's prowess is undeniably elite, underscoring a somewhat ironic twist in the recent Lions' selections.
Flood, in his candid revelations, expressed his thoughts on England's performance and the emerging talents. “I thought they played really well and looked really sharp. George Ford was George Ford; he’s probably been as good a 10 in the world for a decent stretch now and probably doesn’t get the recognition,” he stated. This acknowledgment comes amidst discussions on team dynamics and selections, especially concerning the Lions.
"It’s unbelievably ironic because we had the two lads, Fin and Marcus, on a Lions tour, then suddenly they get usurped by a guy who’s playing, technically, a tier down."
Flood pointed out the controversial decision to include Owen Farrell in the Lions, despite his recent inactivity in rugby. “If I were either Fin or Marcus Smith, I would be annoyed that Owen, a guy who hasn’t played rugby for two years, comes in and sits on a bench. That’s wrong because he’s not going to be on the next Lions tour,” Flood remarked, emphasizing the missed opportunity for younger talents like Fin Russell and Marcus Smith to gain valuable test match experience.
Discussing the broader coaching landscape, Flood praised Andy Farrell's approach. “I’ve always admired Andy Farrell – he gets the best out of people. He has a way and a mannerism to make people understand what the requirements are. He fits being an international coach really well because you can only bang the drum so many times in the manner he does,” he noted.
Looking ahead to the Six Nations, Flood shared his insights, highlighting the potential of various national teams. “I’m intrigued by France, because they didn’t do what they should have done in New Zealand. Ireland are getting close to the cusp of having peaked as a side,” he observed, while also acknowledging the challenges and opportunities for England, Wales, and Scotland in fostering national rugby spirit and competitive edge.
With the rugby world ever-evolving, the dialogues around player selection, coaching strategies, and national team prospects continue to stir engaging discussions among fans and experts alike.