Rookie Ford in line for England debut

The Bath playmaker has not been picked on the bench for either of England’s opening two Six Nations games but will be named as Owen Farrell’s understudy by Stuart Lancaster tomorrow.

Ford proved his case to Lancaster with a man-of-the-match performance for Bath against Exeter last weekend and England backs coach Andy Farrell believes he is ready to seize his chance.

“George knows all the plays and knows our systems, kicking-wise, attacking-wise, exit-wise, defensively,” said Farrell.