Leicester Tigers are a “totally different beast” in comparison with earlier within the season, says Sale fly-half George Ford.
The 2 sides meet on Sunday within the Premiership semi-final with a spot within the Twickenham showpiece at stake.
Ford, who received the title with Leicester in 2022, says the Tigers are a much-improved outfit to the one which struggled within the new 12 months.
“In comparison with final time we performed them they’re a distinct animal,” Ford mentioned.
“The run of kind they’ve put collectively, the gamers they’ve again particularly within the pack, and [South African World Cup winner] Handre [Pollard] at 10 has made an enormous distinction to the best way they’re enjoying.”
Ford was the tactical fulcrum on the centre of Leicester’s run to the ultimate final season, however denies his insider data will likely be a decisive consider Sale’s favour on Sunday.
“I believe Wiggy [Leicester boss Richard Wigglesworth] is a coach who will at all times attempt to enhance and evolve the staff,” Ford informed the BBC Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
“Regardless that there could be some elements of the sport similar to what we did final 12 months, and even higher that what we did final 12 months, they’ve most likely added a bit extra as nicely.
“We’re nicely conscious of that.”
Ford ‘in a great place’ after harm
Ford suffered a critical Achilles harm within the early levels of the 2022 closing towards Saracens, ruling him out for seven months.
He returned in the beginning of 2023 and was quickly drafted into England’s Six Nations set-up, however did not make a matchday squad with Owen Farrell and Marcus Smith commandeering the fly-half function.
However after a run of video games for Sale in current months, 81-cap Ford says he’s in peak bodily situation with the Rugby World Cup a matter of months away.
“I believe I’m most likely in a greater place from enjoying these video games. Would I’ve felt assured sufficient if I used to be chosen [during the Six Nations]? Sure I might have felt assured sufficient,” he mentioned.
“I undoubtedly underestimated how one can get again match, however by way of truly getting again to your finest and sharpness, then that’s [down to] sport time.
“Somebody mentioned to me something like an Achilles or an ACL harm, you’re looking at seven to eight video games. You go on the market and also you attempt to discover that sport as quickly as you are again, however the actuality is I believe you have to be affected person with it.
“You have acquired your full coaching weeks, your full 80 minutes, that consistency and continuity once more, which I’ve had now and I really feel in a great place now.
“Wanting again it’s undoubtedly what I wanted.”