It’s tough on George Ford, but picking Henry Slade gives England far better balance

Oita gamble: Eddie Jones has dropped George Ford in favour of Henry Slade for Australia clash
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Topsy Ojo17 October 2019

If the World Cup Final was tomorrow and you asked me what Eddie Jones’s first-choice team would be, it would have that trio of Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade running through the middle of it.

Eddie went with it during the Six Nations this year and it is only recently that Slade’s injury has forced his hand.

That’s why I am not too surprised with his team selection today, but I am disappointed for George Ford. He has probably been England's best player at this World Cup.

He has been in great form since he got the starting 10 shirt back, taken his opportunity and done everything you can ask for from a player - and then the first really big game comes around and he doesn’t get the nod. It is very tough on him.

George is one of Eddie’s captains, so this is a massive statement and the whole team will probably feel the same as I do, in that it is quite a tough call.

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But I guess it just speaks volumes about how highly Eddie rates Slade. He is such a clever player. He reads the game very well and you get the best of both worlds with him.

He has got that carrying threat, but he can come into the line and distribute, too.

Everybody will see Manu as the battering ram, but you can play around that. With Slade outside of him, you have got that turn of pace and I can see why Eddie has brought him straight back in.

He nailed down that 13 shirt in the Six Nations and only injury has held him back.

Farrell is going back to where he usually plays at Saracens. He can play 10 and 12 equally well, but ultimately fly-half is where he is most comfortable.

By doing that, you get your general and captain right in the thick of things, marshalling the game and leading everyone. Farrell is just that little bit closer to the forwards and backs and it might allow him to have an even bigger stamp on the game, which is perhaps what Eddie is after.

All in all, it is quite a beefy midfield trio from England and you would think, physically, they would be able to win that battle.

But then you look at what Australia have gone for and it changes things. Christian Lealiifano is in there at 10 instead of Bernard Foley, which I wasn’t expecting.

Then Jordan Petaia is at 13, when you could have seen someone like James O’Connor or Tevita Kuridrani.

Petaia is the unknown at 13, but you know he is a dangerous, elusive runner, so you are actually getting a different threat. It is not so much a power battle, but more about tactics and lines of running.

It would be like having Jonathan Joseph in there. You wouldn’t say he is a huge, physical player, but he has all that class around his game. Maybe that is what Australia see with Petaia.

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