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'Whether he is in the England squad is not my call'
By PA
Leicester boss Steve Borthwick hailed George Ford’s influence on another dominant Gallagher Premiership display after the Tigers demolished Worcester 48-3 at Sixways.
The league leaders’ fifth successive win this season put them seven points clear of second-placed Harlequins.
It also confirmed their best start to a Premiership campaign since the competition began 24 years ago.
Leicester fly-half Ford, who has won 77 caps, was left out of England head coach Eddie Jones’ recent training squad.
But he has maintained impressive form ahead of Jones naming his playing group on Monday for the Autumn Nations Series that features Twickenham appointments with Tonga, Australia and South Africa.
“George did everything good today,” Leicester head coach Borthwick said. “He pulled the strings and was very, very good.
“Whether he is in the England squad is not my call, but he looked very sharp.
“I want to help my players to be the best they can be and help their aspirations.”
The Tigers were home and dry by the interval following tries for wing Harry Potter, centre Matias Moroni and hooker Julian Montoya, leaving Worcester reeling.
Former England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth scored a bonus-point try midway through the second period, before hooker Nic Dolly claimed his fifth try of the season as Leicester ensured no let-up during the closing minutes, then wing Nemani Nadolo powered over, substitute Freddie Burns crossed and Burns added two conversions.
Ford finished with nine points from three conversions and a penalty, and Borthwick added: “We still have things to improve on and fix.
“We have Sale next, and they looked really good against Harlequins on Friday, so that will be a big challenge.
“I try to keep it simple in my own mind. I take lessons from this game, and as soon as the final whistle goes I am looking at Sale next week.
“I’ve said to the players to enjoy this win, they worked very hard, recover well tomorrow and then think of Sale.”
Worcester, beaten 42-5 by Exeter last weekend, were once again on the end of a major drubbing as they slumped to a fourth Premiership defeat on the bounce.
Fly-half Billy Searle contributed their only points through a first-half penalty, and Leicester cut loose during the second period, scoring four tries during the final 22 minutes.
And life is not about to get any easier for Worcester, with their next two games being away against Northampton and at home to Sale.
Warriors head coach Jonathan Thomas said: “It’s very difficult, it is a bitter pill to swallow and to lose in that fashion is truly disappointing.
“That was probably the most complete team performance I have seen in the Premiership in a long time. They steamrollered us, and physically they dominated.
“Your emotions are probably one of embarrassment and disappointment, but we know we are not a bad team and have to work hard to put this right.
“They are at the top of this league for a reason.”
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Latest Comments
The England backs can't be that dumb, he has been playing on and off for the last couple of years. If they are too slow to keep up with him that's another matter.
He was the only thing stopping England from getting their arses handed to them in the Aussie game. If you can't fit a player with that skill set into an England team then they are stuffed.
Go to commentsSteve Borthwick appointment was misguided based on two flawed premises.
1. An overblown sense of the quality of the premiership rugby. The gap between the Premiership and Test rugby is enormous
2. England needed an English coach who understood English Rugby and it's traditional strengths.
SB won the premiership and was an England forward and did a great job with the Japanese forwards but neither of those qualify you as a tier 1 test manager.
Maybe Felix Jones and Aled Walter's departures are down to the fact that SB is a details man, which work at club level but at test level you need the manager to manage and let the coaches get on and do what they are employed for.
SB criticism of players is straight out of Eddie Jones playbook but his loyalty to keeping out of form players borne out of his perceived sense of betrayal as a player.
In all it doesn't stack up as the qualities needed to be a modern Test coach /Manager
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