Old mates to share big stage

George Ford: poised to make his 6 Nations debut for England tomorrow.

“RUGBY mad” George Ford and Owen Farrell are ready to complete their journey from childhood friends to England team–mates in tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with Ireland.

Oldham-born Ford is poised to make his Test debut after being named on the bench for the Twickenham title clash, taking Brad Barritt’s spot among the replacements.

Once opponents at junior rugby league clubs — Ford at Oldham St Anne’s, Saddleworth Rangers and Waterhead — they were brought together as union team–mates when their fathers, Mike Ford and Andy Farrell, were united at Saracens as coach and player.

It was the beginning of a friendship that included influential roles in the England under–20s side which reached the 2011 junior World Cup final, Ford playing at fly–half and Farrell at inside centre.

Farrell, who at 22 is two years older, has since established himself as a key cog in the Red Rose wheel and Ford insists they feed off each other’s commitment.

“We lived next door to each other and went to the same school, which was good. We walked to school together every day and then came home together,” Ford said.

“We used to play a lot of golf but mainly it was going out on the street, with me, Owen and my older brother Joe and playing two–on–ones and having a mess around with the rugby ball. We were just rugby mad.”

Ford’s elevation to the matchday 23 has been driven by the need to add depth at fly–half in case Farrell should be injured.

Having swapped Leicester for Bath last summer, a commanding season at the Recreation Ground has seen Ford promoted above Gloucester’s Freddie Burns in England’s pecking order.