England
Watson is England's wing solution - Ford
ESPN Staff
January 5, 2014
Leicester struggled to contain Watson at Welford Road © Getty Images
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Bath head coach Mike Ford insists Anthony Watson is ready to solve Stuart Lancaster's s wing crisis for the Six Nations after excelling in the 27-27 draw with Leicester.

Watson scored Bath's opening try and was lively throughout an entertaining clash at Welford Road that finished all square after flanker Jamie Gibson crossed in the 79th minute. England will have to cope without Christian Wade and Marland Yarde for the entire Six Nations and Watson, who was moved from full-back to the right wing against the Tigers, looks set to be in the running to make his debut against France on February 1.

"If Anthony Watson didn't get man of the match, I don't know who did. He was fantastic, on fire," said Ford, though the award went to Leicester's hero Jamie Gibson.

Ford revealed Lancaster is visiting Bath on Monday and said: "Stuart has talked to me about [Watson] playing wing and that was the best he's played all year, without a question. It was against a serious side away from home, so that's very promising.

"An international wing finishes those chances and he did that. On that performance he's ready to play for England. His main attribute is attitude. He'll keep his feet on the ground and will try to get better."

England update their elite player and Saxons squads on Thursday, with Bath fly-half George Ford in contention for promotion to the senior group in place of Toby Flood, who is destined to play in France next season.Ford was involved in most of his team's best moments at Welford Road, creating tries for Francois Louw and Jonathan Joseph and finishing the afternoon with a personal haul of 12 points from the kicking tee.

And Bath's coach Mike Ford believes his 20-year-old son proved he is more than ready to make the step up to Lancaster's elite group.

"For me if they don't pick Toby Flood then George Ford must be one of the front-runners," he said.

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