Ford hungry for Test return after difficult autumn
Fly-half George Ford says his desire to play for England is greater than ever as he looks to bounce back from a difficult autumn.
The 98-cap playmaker missed a late drop goal against New Zealand and was scarcely used thereafter as England lost three of their four November matches.
Ford, 31, wasn't selected for the win against Japan and says he still feels he has a point to prove despite a decade operating at the highest level.
"My hunger and desire is the most it's ever been," he told BBC Sport.
"I just want to be as consistent as I can, and that's what I will pride myself on, and I will keep pushing that and driving myself to be that.
"I still know I've got plenty to give at the top level, and I'll try and keep putting myself in that position so hopefully I can play more games.
"I'm still feeling really good to hopefully have my best years ahead of me."
'It leaves a little bit of a scar'
After starting every game of the 2024 Six Nations, Ford missed the summer tour of Japan and New Zealand through injury, with Marcus Smith commandeering the number 10 shirt.
But after coming on for Smith during the autumn opener against the All Blacks, Ford missed a penalty and then a drop goal with the last kick of the match, as England were edged out 24-22.
"I'm OK with it because I put myself in the position to try and kick it," Ford reflected in an extended interview with the BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
"If you put yourself in that position enough times, you are probably going to fail a few times, which you never want to happen, of course you don't.
"I suppose it leaves a little bit of a scar on you, but you have to accept you are not going to always kick it.
"I know it was a big moment, and we could have won the game with it, but throughout your career there are loads of ups and downs like that, which I have probably learnt to deal with a little bit more neutrally than I would have done when I was younger."
'You would expect the crowd to be fully supportive'
Ford also had to contend with boos from a section of the Twickenham crowd when it appeared he was going to again replace Smith against Australia, with head coach Steve Borthwick instead moving Smith to full-back.
"When you are representing your country and you've done it for a long time, you would expect the crowd to be fully behind you," Ford added.
"This isn't just me, it has happened recently in the past with people like Owen [Farrell]. It is a funny way to be [booing your own team].
"But if my team-mates know the value I bring, and the coaches know the value I bring, and my family know the value I bring, that's all that matters to me."
And Ford says he will use all his experience to help the younger fly-halves like Smith and namesake Fin, whoever ends up being selected going forward.
"I'm not saying I've got the answers to everything in rugby, but I have been around since 2014 on the international stage and I have a fair amount of experience, and if I can pass anything on to Fin, or even Marcus – even though he is racking up the caps now – to help those lads to help the team, then I will do that," Ford said.
"We are all team-mates and we all want to help each other out, and as much as I can help in whatever capacity that is that week, then I will do it.
"I try and pride myself on trying to be a good person and a good guy when it comes to helping others out who are potentially playing ahead of you."
Ford will be in Champions Cup action on Friday evening as Sale look to recover from defeat at Glasgow when they host Stuart Lancaster's Racing 92.
After being rested last weekend, other England internationals like Luke Cowan-Dickie and Ben Curry are also set to return to the Sharks fold, with Ford seeing it as a perfect opportunity to build some form and momentum from both an individual and team perspective.
"A lot of the things about the game these days – both within games and outside games – is how you respond to things," Ford said.
"There are so many ups and downs on the field, and it's the same in a bigger context. The England lads came back and were a little bit down; some lads didn't play a lot, some lads played a little bit and it didn't go the way we wanted it to go.
"But it is how you respond, and how you come back here and attack things at the club and hopefully get a run of games.
"I'm a big believer that there are going to be some bumps and some rocky road along the way, but to keep showing up and to keep responding is the main thing, and I think you'll come out the other end more often than not."
