🔗 Share this article

Back in November 2024, national team playmaker George Ford appeared disappointed at Allianz Stadium.

He was called upon off the sidelines to help the home side complete an historic victory against New Zealand, yet missed a decisive kick plus a drop-goal attempt as England were beaten in a close contest.

Following those costly misses, Ford needed to put in effort to get another shot to achieve success for the national side.

His playing time was limited to 25 minutes in the recent Six Nations but a string of impressive performances, especially during the warm-weather tour against Argentina and the USA as Fin Smith and Marcus Smith were away on Lions tour commitments, put him firmly back among starting candidates.

The veteran player did more than justify the manager's confidence through his selection facing the Kiwis, and the Sharks star delivered a player-of-the-match performance to assist the home team to a first win versus the Kiwis in their own stadium since 2012.

The decisive instant in the game Ford successfully executed back-to-back drop-goals just before the break.

This assisted England overcome a 12-0 deficit to reduce the margin to 12-11 by halftime, ahead of the manager's skilled reserves repeatedly excelled after halftime to support England to a decisive 33-19 win.

"Credit must be given to the senior players on our squad, especially George," Borthwick told. "That period as he scored those drop-goals, he managed the game just incredibly.

"One year earlier I believed Ford came on and played exceptionally well [against New Zealand].

"A kick hit the post while he attempted a drop-goal under pressure, yet he performed excellently.

"He's an exceptional captain, an outstanding athlete and an even finer individual. We are privileged to feature him on our team."

Drop-goals 'always in the plan'

The All Blacks began rapidly during the match, surging to a 12-point lead through scores from two key players.

After Lawrence's strong try, Ford's consecutive three-pointers meant the hosts entered the locker room with psychological advantage.

"The challenging thing during those periods occurs as the display indicates twelve to zero, we must maintain to our plan and our philosophy the superior method to perform is," Ford said.

"We got ourselves back into it and we recognized were we to commence the second half well, with substitutes entering, we would be in a favorable situation.

"Even with 15 minutes left, we were positioned near our try line after a penalty, thus we encountered obstacles during that phase also.

"In my opinion that represents Test rugby is - who manages best during those situations superiorly."

Both kicks came within two minutes of each other as Ford who successfully converted three drop-kicks in a successful match versus Argentina during the 2023 World Cup, showed all his century of caps experience.

Ford converted two drop-kicks with Sale in a Prem game conducted in tough circumstances at Bath - this represents an ability he has extensively practiced.

"The drop-kicks are consistently planned," Ford added.

"Borthwick represents a phenomenal leader that he consistently advising me, and correctly so because three points prove important during any phase of the game."

Ford directed England excellently throughout the match the complete contest, executing intelligent kicks - both in contestable situations and in finding space in the opposition's territory.

His characteristic 'spiral bomb' also bamboozled the New Zealand player, who failed to regather.

Having started the national team's triumph against Australia during the autumn series, Ford passed on the fly-half position to Fin Smith for the Fiji victory seven days later.

However the greatest challenge theoretically this season came against the multiple World Cup winners, and Ford reclaimed his spot.

The English team, presently maintaining 10 straight wins, play against Argentina this month creating intrigue to learn if the manager opts for the younger Smith or maintains Ford.

Whatever choice occurs, Ford proved with two years remaining from a World Cup that significant amounts of rugby left in him.