Ireland much more than just Sexton
George Ford believes England must consider the threat carried by the entire Ireland team, rather than focusing solely on his opposite number Jonathan Sexton ahead of Sunday's Six Nations tie in Dublin.
Bath flyhalf Ford has starred as Stuart Lancaster's first-choice No.10 this Championship, delivering two assured performances in wins over Wales and Italy.
Meanwhile, Sexton returned to Ireland's starting XV in Dublin following an enforced 12-week concussion lay-off, kicking five penalties in an 18-11 victory to maintain Ireland's 100 percent start to the defence of their Six Nations crown.
And the 21-year-old admits that while Sexton may have received much acclaim for his performance, the Red Roses need to look at the Irish group as a whole when the two meet in Dublin on Sunday.
"It's definitely not just the case of stop Sexton and you stop Ireland at all I don't think," Ford said.
"He's just massively influential in that team, everything goes through him. He's got a brilliant rugby brain; he's a very smart player.
"The biggest thing is his desire to win and hunger to get the best out of the players on his team, but also his determination to go out and give his best as well.
"Then you've got Simon Zebo, Tommy Bowe and Rob Kearney at full-back, who are all massively dangerous, and Rory Best and Sean O'Brien are brilliant over the ball and disrupting other teams' ball too."
But Ford, who is just eight caps into his England career, is looking forward to going up against Sexton, hoping to improve his own game by watching his 29-year-old counterpart.
"You're constantly learning watching game, so to watch Sexton how he goes about his game, the way he drives his team and how influential he is, that's only something you can learn from a No.10."
@rbs_6_nations
