‘Taken for granted', never a Lion — yet George Ford nears 100 caps
Mike Ford, George's father and a former Lions defence coach, rang off and thought about what he had just heard. 'You go, 'Right, OK', but you're thinking, wow, that's why he is who he is,' Mike said.
The Lions did not come for the Sale Sharks playmaker, hence his presence in Argentina, rather than Australia. But that ability to treat Rudyard Kipling's twin impostors the same goes a long way to explaining why the 32-year-old is about to become the eighth Englishman to reach 100 caps.
Ford has won a grand slam and three Six Nations titles, two Premierships and appeared in two World Cup semi-finals. He has also been left out of some of England's biggest World Cup games, though, and never been a Lion. All the while he has met sporting triumph and disaster with equanimity.
'We've picked him up a few times,' Ford Sr admits. 'Me or Sally Anne put an arm round him. We're his mum and dad, aren't we. I remind him he's the best in the world, because that's what I truly believe. But he's never let it affect the way he prepares the team and himself. I've been in the game since 1982 and he's teaching me things.
'I look at my own career and times that didn't go well for me. There was certainly a period I went into the doldrums, feeling sorry for myself. Most players are like that. George's mindset is so strong. He's obsessed with the sport, has been since he was a ball boy and mascot when I played.'
From family you would expect words of support. But talk to hardened professionals and their verdicts correspond.
'George's temperament is always the same,' Ben Youngs, England's most-capped male player, says. 'So consistent, no let-off. Whether he's starting, captain, not involved, whatever — his discipline and focus on the week and day-to-day is remarkable.
'Externally, he's probably never got the praise he deserves, but I'll tell you this, he's one of the best I've played with and I was fortunate enough to play with some unbelievable fly halves. Remove him from Leicester's Premiership team in 2022 and we don't win that title. Without doubt. He was that integral to how we played. How he's never been a Lion I find very, very hard to fathom.
'He's so pivotal, essential and selfless in the way he creates space and time for everyone else. He's the ultimate team player. I think sometimes he goes under the radar because he does his job so well. He's taken for granted.'
Ford played for England Under-18 when he was 15, made his professional debut at 16, marshalled England Under-20 at 17, and was named World Junior Player of the Year at 18.
'It was just a matter of time before we picked him,' recalls former England head coach Stuart Lancaster, who gave Ford his senior debut in 2014. 'His game understanding, knowledge and composure was exceptional at such a young age.
'I gave him his first cap on the basis of him beginning to really dominate at Premiership level. There are very few tens I have seen do that at such a young age.
'I look at him now and see a player at the peak of his powers. His ability to read and manipulate defences, to take the ball to the line when they're stood off him, to hold his feet when they're coming at him and put people into space, is incredible.
'To get to 100 caps in the same era as Owen Farrell, Danny Cipriani, Marcus Smith, Fin Smith and many other great tens is testament to him. He doesn't look to me like he's slowing down, either. He's in great shape and looks motivated. I'm very proud of him.'
In La Plata, an hour's drive southeast of Buenos Aires, Ford will reach three figures against an Argentina side buoyant by beating the Lions. Watching from the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi stands will be dad and younger brother, Jacob.
'He told us not to worry about being there,' Ford Sr says. 'Well, of course, he did! He said this is just a milestone on his journey and he doesn't want it to be seen as his be-all-and-end-all.
'So we won't be throwing him a party, because he wouldn't want that. But I still need to be there. I wouldn't be anywhere else.'
Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, La PlataSaturday, 8.40pmTV Sky Sports
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