James Simpson-Daniel has claimed George Ford's performance against Argentina was the best an England fly-half had played since the prime days of Jonny Wilkinson.
Ford kicked all of England's points in the 27-10 victory, slotting three drop goals and six penalties as the Sale 10 was instrumental in captain Owen Farrell's absence through suspension.
Former Gloucester wing/centre Simpson-Daniell, who played 10 times for England and scored three tries between 2002-2008, described Ford's performance as a ‘masterclass in game management'.
Speaking to OLBG, Simpson-Daniel said: “That was the best performance by an England fly-half since Johnny Wilkinson in his pomp. What he did was adapt, he has such a good brain. Everyone says he basically runs training like (Johnny) Sexton does for Ireland.
“He immediately adapted his performance to the conditions and the situation England found themselves in so early in the game. He changed everything, took the game by the scruff of the neck and literally bossed it. Keeping the scoreboard ticking over, his game management was outstanding.
“England were getting a lot of flak in the build up to the tournament and understandably that was a day to put a lot of things right. England will now be backing themselves to go a long way in this tournament. The confidence this will have given them is enormous.”
Steve Borthwick's side are on the more favourable side of the draw with Japan, Samoa and Chile to come in pool D, and with England expected to top their group it's likely they will face either Australia, Wales or Fiji in the quarter-finals before tackling tougher opposition in the semis.
Simpson-Daniel recognises England's fortune and believes they won't fear any of those teams.
“I am not getting carried away,” said Simpson-Daniel.
“I am not saying this side is going to win the World Cup but you can't get away from the fact that we are on the 'right side of the draw'. It is always great when something goes to plan.
“Their minds seemed really on the way, they all seemed to do their jobs well individually and collectively and if we take one game at a time, come the knockout stages I don't think we would be fearing Wales or Australia in the quarter-finals if that's how it pans out.
“It was a statement performance and at no time did the Pumas look to be able to dominate in any area of play and that was with a one man advantage for 78 minutes. They will be bitterly disappointed. The bookies had them to win. We had complete control and dominance.”
England were victorious over Argentina despite Tom Curry's second minute red card for a high tackle on Juan Cruz Mallia that the TMO deemed to be too upright as the players collided heads.
Moments later, Santiago Carreras was sin binned for a similar incident on Ford but his wasn't upgraded to a red like Curry, while in Sunday's South Africa-Scotland game Springbok Jesse Kriel avoided any punishment for his appeared high tackle on Jack Dempsey.
As a result Simpson-Daniel is left frustrated and bemused at the inconsistencies of refereeing decisions at the start of the tournament.
He said: “I didn't think Curry's was a red card at the time and my position has not changed. It was clumsy but there was nothing malicious about it. I thought it was a penalty and a yellow card. No upgrade.
“If Curry's is red, then 100 per cent so is Carreras'. It was just the same for me. I think they're both yellow cards. The problem is the consistency is not there. And that is not right. Curry's dismissal could have changed the game entirely. You see so many games spoilt by a red card.
“How was Kriel's not a red? It just reinforces the inconsistency of it all. It is not as if there aren't cameras everywhere now. Everything is getting watched. How are certain incidents not being tackled?
“The only consistency over the first weekend has been the inconsistency. It has got to get better. They must be talking amongst themselves, because at some point it will adversely affect results.”
Written by Ben Jaycock
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