🔗 Share this article

During November 2024, England fly-half George Ford looked disheartened on the Allianz Stadium turf.

He was called upon as a substitute to help the home side secure a memorable triumph facing the Kiwis, however was unable to score a late penalty and drop-goal as England were beaten by two points.

In the wake of those pivotal failures, the player was required to strive to secure another chance at delivering glory to the English team.

He played only 25 minutes throughout the Six Nations tournament but a string of impressive performances, particularly on the warm-weather tour of Argentina and the United States as Fin Smith and Marcus Smith were away on Lions team responsibilities, returned him solidly in the starting mix.

At 32 years old not only repaid the coach's trust in starting him facing the Kiwis, and the Sharks star produced a man-of-the-match display to assist the home team to a first win versus the Kiwis in their own stadium ending a drought dating to 2012.

The decisive instant in the game Ford successfully executed back-to-back drop-goals immediately preceding halftime.

This assisted England bounce back from being down 12-0 to reduce the margin to 12-11 by halftime, ahead of the manager's skilled reserves again delivered after halftime to assist the team to a decisive 33-19 win.

"Recognition should be offered to the senior players on our squad, notably George," Borthwick told. "In that moment where he hit those crucial kicks, he managed the game just incredibly.

"One year earlier In my view George substituted and competed exceptionally well [against New Zealand].

"A attempt hit the upright and he had a difficult drop-goal, but he played really well.

"He's a tremendous guide, an outstanding athlete plus a better human being. We are privileged to have him on our team."

Drop-kicks 'consistently planned'

New Zealand began rapidly at Allianz Stadium, racing into a substantial early margin through scores from Leicester Fainga'anuku and Codie Taylor.

Subsequent to Ollie Lawrence's strong try, the fly-half's successive drop-goals resulted in the home side returned to the locker room with renewed energy.

"The difficult aspect in those moments is, when the scoreboard says twelve to zero, we are able to adhere to our strategy and our convictions the optimal approach to perform is," Ford said.

"We worked our way back into contention and we understood if we started the latter half effectively, as reserves joined, we found ourselves in an advantageous spot.

"Although facing 15 minutes left, we were positioned defending our goal line with a yellow card, meaning we faced difficulties in that instance too.

"I believe this illustrates elite competition requires - who can deal during those situations most effectively."

Both kicks happened within two minutes of each other as the fly-half who executed three drop-kicks in a win facing the Argentine team in the last global tournament, showed all his international experience.

Ford hit two drop-goals for Sale in a Prem game conducted in difficult conditions against Bath - it is a skill he has mastered thoroughly.

"The drop-kicks form part of our strategy," Ford added.

"Borthwick represents an incredible coach since he continually advising me, and appropriately since three points is valuable at any stage of play."

Ford guided his side brilliantly throughout the match the complete contest, executing intelligent kicks - both to compete and identifying openings in the opposition's territory.

His signature high spiral kick also bamboozled the New Zealand player, who couldn't collect.

Having started the English victory versus the Wallabies during the autumn series, Ford handed over the number 10 jersey to the younger Smith against Fiji a week later.

Yet the most significant examination theoretically this season was presented by the experienced New Zealand team, with Ford regaining his starting role.

England, presently maintaining ten consecutive victories, play against Argentina this month creating intrigue to discover whether the coach returns with the alternative or maintains Ford.

Whatever choice occurs, Ford established with two years remaining before the World Cup that ample opportunity of rugby left for him.