Times report Ford on his way to Tigers

[G.K]

Not really averse to GF joining BUT I fear for the amount of missed kicks we are going to ship.
So are Tigers going to get a kicking coach in for him? Or will MT take the duties?
When you play the small percentage game that missed 2 pointer may just mean a big L.

Eaxcarly - his place kicking is so poor you have to have another kicking option, which limits selection. Hence the only reason Farrel (who was completely hopeless for England today BTW) is in the England team.

[sebco]

Give me Freddie all season over Ford for part of it any day, in fact I'll take Freddie over Ford full stop, turned into a true Tiger.

[dunks43]

Why would tigers allow freddie to leave , when in effect george ford will be playing for england for numerous times during the season and we have no back up fly half .... As at 450k a year Simon cohen has also said we pay up to salary cap, so who else is leaving to allow for the 450 k

[RagingBull]

Why would tigers allow freddie to leave , when in effect george ford will be playing for england for numerous times during the season and we have no back up fly half .... As at 450k a year Simon cohen has also said we pay up to salary cap, so who else is leaving to allow for the 450 k

Cap goes up next season. (Also Williams will be on a decent slice around £200,000 most likely)

[Grinsteadtiger]

Also don't want to see FB leave. May be irrelevant but didn't he agree new Terms in Jan 2016. Does anyone know how long it was for? Achieve new site does not say

[Noddy555]

Whilst I'd like to Keep FB if GF comes if he has to go to balance the books then go he must because Ford is a better all round player,

[Tom Tom]

Whilst I'd like to Keep FB if GF comes if he has to go to balance the books then go he must because Ford is a better all round player,

He is the future and is coming on in great leaps and bounds.
FB for me over Ford, 7 days a week.
We must keep Freddie.

[Qbec]

Won't Tigers get salary credits as part of GF's salary as he would classify as home grown talent having come through the our academy.
Therefore not all of the chunk he would be on would come off the cap.

[sapajo]

Whilst I'd like to Keep FB if GF comes if he has to go to balance the books then go he must because Ford is a better all round player,

He is the future and is coming on in great leaps and bounds.
FB for me over Ford, 7 days a week.
We must keep Freddie.

This is FB's third season at Tigers and frankly the only aspect of his game that has come on in great leaps and bounds is his kicking. Sadly he is still not the threat in attack that Ford is.

[L Smith]

Whilst I'd like to Keep FB if GF comes if he has to go to balance the books then go he must because Ford is a better all round player,

He is the future and is coming on in great leaps and bounds.
FB for me over Ford, 7 days a week.
We must keep Freddie.

This is FB's third season at Tigers and frankly the only aspect of his game that has come on in great leaps and bounds is his kicking. Sadly he is still not the threat in attack that Ford is.

I'm not sure that's entirely fair. Burns is a better running 10, Ford is a better distributor. Burns is a better kicker from the tee, Ford is a better kicker from hand. Burns is possibly better in defence but Ford is less likely to play casino rugby from his own 22.
I'd be happy to keep them both, with Burns rotating between 10 and 15. Let's face it, with international call ups and the odd injury, Burns would get plenty of time at 10, Veianu could stay on the wing and Worth could be Burns' understudy at 15.
Simples...

[BFG]

On yesterdays performance Youngs and Ford looked like the Laurel and Hardy of rugby!
Personally I wouldn't bother with Ford and his big price and I'd sell Youngs!
Anyone who has seen Toomua play at 10 will know he is like a blend of Flood and Farrell, all the skills and hard as nails to the line.
I'd have Sam Harrison and Matt Toomua playing 9 and 10 with Tuilagi at 12 and play Roberts more at 13, and sign someone like Sam James who can play centre and 10 and also a full back like Rob Miller who can also cover 10!

[sam16111986]

On yesterdays performance Youngs and Ford looked like the Laurel and Hardy of rugby!
Personally I wouldn't bother with Ford and his big price and I'd sell Youngs!
Anyone who has seen Toomua play at 10 will know he is like a blend of Flood and Farrell, all the skills and hard as nails to the line.
I'd have Sam Harrison and Matt Toomua playing 9 and 10 with Tuilagi at 12 and play Roberts more at 13, and sign someone like Sam James who can play centre and 10 and also a full back like Rob Miller who plays 15 but can also cover 10!

Sam James has signed a long term deal with Sale, there's no chance we'll get him. A utility playmaker should be high on our priorities though.

Ford suffered yesterday because the English backrow were too slow to the breakdown and physically beaten up by the French. His backline had no easy gain line options so there was not alot on for Ford. England looked a lot better when Haskell, George and Te'o came on and gave us some physical go forward. Half backs generally struggle when their pack loses the physical battle.

Burns is a decent club flyhalf but doesn't consistently control games. Outside of kicking for goal Ford is a better flyhalf in every area. Ford is 23 with over 30 caps for England, Freddie is 26 and has 5.

[BFG]

On yesterdays performance Youngs and Ford looked like the Laurel and Hardy of rugby!
Personally I wouldn't bother with Ford and his big price and I'd sell Youngs!
Anyone who has seen Toomua play at 10 will know he is like a blend of Flood and Farrell, all the skills and hard as nails to the line.
I'd have Sam Harrison and Matt Toomua playing 9 and 10 with Tuilagi at 12 and play Roberts more at 13, and sign someone like Sam James who can play centre and 10 and also a full back like Rob Miller who plays 15 but can also cover 10!

Sam James has signed a long term deal with Sale, there's no chance we'll get him. A utility playmaker should be high on our priorities though.

Ford suffered yesterday because the English backrow were too slow to the breakdown and physically beaten up by the French. His backline had no easy gain line options so there was not alot on for Ford. England looked a lot better when Haskell, George and Te'o came on and gave us some physical go forward. Half backs generally struggle when their pack loses the physical battle.

Burns is a decent club flyhalf but doesn't consistently control games. Outside of kicking for goal Ford is a better flyhalf in every area. Ford is 23 with over 30 caps for England, Freddie is 26 and has 5.

Yes there is an argument that can point to the pack for England yesterday but there is also another train of thought where a hard as nails to the line 10 like Farrell (Toomua) is like gold.
Personally in Leicester's case I'd spend the big money on the pack, a hooker, lock and an 8.
It's sometimes not as simple as blaming the back row IMO and more about structures of play!
If Leicester are to continue with this light mobile back row philosophy then they need to mix it up which includes trucking it up a little more through midfield and building quick phases similar to the difference when Farrell and Te'o were at 10/12 for England yesterday Leicester could have Toomua/Tuilagi, a team can't just demand a back row covers left and right at will as it's just not humanly possible, there has to be a good structure and Youngs and Ford as the half backs couldn't cope with that responsibility yesterday.

[LE18]

Do we have any change of views on FB after todays game?

[sapajo]

Do we have any change of views on FB after todays game?

No, Ford remains the better player.