Yay! Another defence debate! Well, this one is easily settled... *opens iPlayer*
First five minutes: Ford only comes into shot as a defensive player twice, maybe three times. The first - not sure it's definitely him - is when a small dark haired figure trots into shot from a covering position and joins the opposite end of the defensive line to the action just before May's early penalty. The second is when he comes into shot from a cover position ready to tackle a break down the wing when North is whistled back for forwards. The third is just at the end of the period, Ford is covering inside the 22 on the right hand side and takes a kick intended for touch.
Second five minutes: Ford makes his first tackle on Faletau from that scrum. Ford is stood behind the scrum prior to the scrum. He takes Faletau to ground but is unable to wrap Faletau's arms or change his momentum sufficiently and therefore he is able to offload. A try is scored.
There's probably, in fairness, a very short list of backs in international rugby that would reliably get a different outcome. But we needed a different outcome and we didn't get one; it is a prime example of where a tackle alone is not enough; of where a back who is only capable of taking his man and not smashing him is a weakness.
It is absolutely absurd to say that May only stepped in because Ford has a reputation as not defensively sound. It is an everyday mistake that can be seen in any try compilation (NZ's winning try against Ireland in 2013 is one). Ironically, if he'd fully distrusted Ford and committed to the tackle as well, Faletau probably wouldn't have got that offload away and there's no try.
Third five minutes - Nought doing
Fourth five minutes - We're just before 18 minutes and Wales have a lineout. England advance quickly but then pause in front of an array of Welsh runners. Jiffy Jnr is the man and he goes straight at Ford and straight through Ford. The tackle is eventually made - although I suspect that had more to do with Robshaw, who tackled Davies side on, particularly as Ford is leaning on the ensuing ruck - but in any case, the tackle ends roughly 5m after it begins.
40 seconds and a bit of kick tennis later, Ford hustles back to cover Watson's position and collects a good kick before any real damage could be done.
Fifth five minutes - He's ruck inspecting again, right at the beginning, I'd like to think Farrell will tell him to get out and fan round in future. 21 minutes and a half in, Ford gets another chance to defend from a lineout. It's a short lineout so Ford is a little bit out, with the forwards filling in inside him. Warburton receives a short pass and takes it straight at Ford and is taken to earth 2m after where the tackle starts. The move goes out towards the left wing but as it comes back towards the right, we see Ford and Youngs stood on the far right with only Watson outside them. We can actually see Youngs run into the line from a sweeper position, picking the spot inside Ford.
Sixth five minutes - Saw nothing
Seventh five minutes - Pause the screen at 32.30. You should have an England kick-chase consisting of Vunipola, Burrell, Joseph and May in view. Considering that it was Youngs who cleared it, I don't think it unfair to wonder why Ford isn't in that chase. It was, incidentally, an awful chase and led directly to a Welsh shot at sticks.
Nothing else really, although I feel like mentioning in passing it's really fun to watch Ben Youngs launch himself at Roberts and then bounce straight back onto his feet to kick the ball out of the ruck.
Eighth five minutes - Or 35-40. Probably should have called it that. Ford is in shot for the kick chase in the 39th minute but after a phase or two, he abandons his guard position and moves across the defensive line as others filter in. As he next comes into camera view, at 39.16, there's now 7 players between him and where that ruck was. As we reach the end of the half he appears once again for a defensive intervention when the Welsh break and Ford is once again covering the right wing. He might have got a tackle in for the statistics there, I'm not sure, confused group effort.
I cannot guarantee I got everything but I was watching pretty close and what I saw, I've recorded. The second half will have to wait, on account of me being terminally bored, but so far the jury is hearing persuasive evidence the case brought to us by Mr GN10 esq is in fact truthful in its particulars. Ford gave away metres in the head on confrontation twice and he most definitely seems to be being hidden away from the action.
Btw - Joseph's ruck technique is great.
Look; I don't think anyone has said that George Ford is the new Ronan O'Gara, or that he shouldn't play. But there is a clear issue that in the modern game, just making the tackle is not enough. Ford just makes the tackle on Faletau and Wales score. Yeah, sure, there was a mistake before and after that, but that doesn't clear Ford from blame. Ford just doesn't look capable of doing anything other than just making the tackle and, sorry, that is a weakness. It doesn't mean he shouldn't be considered if his strengths outweigh it, as they do. But to deny it is a weakness is to deny reality. And, on the current evidence, to say he dispelled the notion that he has a weakness is there is just as much against reality.
