'Cheat code' Ford driving Sale to play-off place

So, we need to talk about George.

That is because George Ford turned in another player-of-the-match display as Sale Sharks beat Bristol Bears 41-27 to boost their hopes of a play-off spot.

It is now five wins in six games for Sale since the Premiership resumed after the Six Nations and Ford, 32, has been instrumental in all of them.

His latest performance was labelled a "masterclass" by Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam and led to him being described as a "cheat code" by club captain Ben Curry.

Ford's own boss, Alex Sanderson, has been beating the drum for two months for the fly-half to be included in the British and Irish Lions squad for the tour of Australia.

Head coach Andy Farrell opted not to pick him, going for Scotland's Finn Russell and England's Fin Smith as his two regular number 10s, with Marcus Smith as cover for both that position and full-back.

However, Farrell said he was keeping a couple of places spare in his squad, to be filled at a later date, with many assuming that his son, Owen Farrell, was one of those targeted for these spots.

But he has not played much rugby in a Racing 92 team that is really struggling in France's Top 14.

If Ford keeps playing as he is for Sale in the closing weeks of the season, his name is not going to go away.

On Friday night, Bristol boss Lam said he had altered his side's normal tactics to opt for a kicking game.

But his side could not match Ford, whose ability to manage the game had Lam purring in respect.

"We didn't execute it anywhere near as good as George Ford did his," said Lam. "He had a masterclass in that.

"George drives Sale's game so well. When you watch him play for Sale and England, his ability to turn teams and make good decisions, he's in a real rich vein of form and he's doing what he's very good at.

"We tried to put him under pressure but, at the moment, he's class."

Sale's win over Bristol took them up to third in the Premiership with one game to go.

Victory away to Exeter Chiefs in their final game will assure them of a play-off spot for a third consecutive season, with all of those finishes since Ford joined the club from Leicester Tigers.

If Sale do make the play-offs, it would also keep the tantalising possibility of a clash between them and Bath - and a battle of the number 10s with Ford against Russell.

For captain Curry, having someone like Ford, a veteran of 98 England caps, makes his job easier.

"Fordy is a little cheat code," he said.

"For me being captain, life is so easy - you just sit back and let him do his thing.

"He is unbelievable. It's not just his rugby or what he says on the pitch. He is a proper standard-bearer, he just seems to get it right.

"I don't think there are many players in the world like him.

"Everyone keeps talking about how good George is, but he needs more recognition."