I think it was clear that the effects of altitude and our poor discipline were significant factors in our defeat at the weekend. However, from a selection standpoint, I think there is one glaring issue: George Ford at 10.
I say this knowing there are many in the pro-Ford camp that will point to his play on the front foot, his cut-out pass to put Jonny May down the right or other deft moments of interplay in attack during the first 20 minutes as reasons why I'm a moron, but hear me out.
Yes, his attacking play is good and he has lovely touch on his passing, however, England's other options are not significantly worse in this area, Cipriani is more or less on par and Farrell has not been far off in recent times.
Although he came onto the scene as a dangerous runner, he simply does not offer a ball-in-hand threat at all these days. Cipriani is significantly better and Farrell breaks the line far more regularly - both of these two are also much safer on the ball in the event they have to carry. Ford gets rag-dolled every time he steps and anyone gets a hand on him, he either goes backwards several yards or gets held up/returns deathly slow ball. I think SA wised up to this and started drifting better onto our midfield as the game moved on, which obviously did not help us.
His kicking out of hand is solid, but with Farrell, Slade and Daly already in the XV it adds nothing.
Now onto the real issue. Fords general physicality and technique in defense and at the breakdown is shocking. Even disregarding all of the above, I do not understand how you can have a player that loses 5-10m minimum every time the opposition runs down their channel. He tackles high every time, not sure if it's something he picked up as a junior in rugby league, but it's pointless. He's not strong enough to stop the offload anyway, so why bother trying? On the weekend almost every single SA score was preceded by momentum generated through Ford's weakness, either him directly falling off tackles / giving up yards, or the players around him pinching in because they don't trust his defence, leaving space out wide. Watch any set piece or moment in open play where he defends the 10 channel and you see Curry and Farrell both swarm to the channel around Ford. England also try and hide him on the blindside wing once phase play starts, which led to multiple occasions where he will get up from a ruck in center-field and run the opposite way to the SA attackers, to reach the safety of his wing, rather than heads up defending. Swapping Ford for a reliable presence who can contribute to all phases of the game at 10 (Farrell would be my choice) would add more to the team than any other possible change ahead of the next game on saturday, so if someone could let Eddie know that would be much appreciated.
Also, Shields for Robshaw and swap Daly and Brown back around.
