George Ford has been described as a once-in-a-generation player comparable with Dan Carter by the former All Black recruited to reverse Bath's slump.
Todd Blackadder only arrived at the Recreation Ground 10 days ago but has already seen enough of Ford to anoint England's fly-half as a special talent capable of pulling the strings for the British and Irish Lions next summer.
Blackadder has drawn comparisons between his new playmaker and New Zealand greats Dan Carter and Kieran Read, a duo he knows well from his time coaching the Crusaders, and even name checked a third outstanding All Black in Beauden Barrett.
"From what I've seen in a short time, George Ford is unbelievable. He's going to be exceptional," Bath's director of rugby said.
"I'd put him up there with Beauden Barrett and Dan Carter and I think he'll be a player of a generation, I really do."
Ford's club future was thrown into doubt when his dad Mike was sacked last season, the price he paid for presiding over Bath's crash from Aviva Premiership finalists to a ninth-placed finish in just 12 months.
It was suggested that Ford might follow his father out of the west country, but Blackadder insists the matter has been resolved and has installed the 23-year-old as vice-captain.
PA
