Outstanding Ford Crucial to Overcoming New Zealand

Back in November 2024, national team playmaker Ford appeared disappointed on the Allianz Stadium turf.

The replacement was brought on as a substitute to support the home side complete an historic victory against New Zealand, however failed to convert a late penalty and drop-goal while his team fell short in a close contest.

After those expensive errors, Ford had to work hard to secure another chance to achieve success for England.

He played only 25 minutes during this year's Six Nations however a series of impressive performances, especially during the summer tour against Argentina and the USA when the Smith players were absent for Lions team responsibilities, returned him solidly as a starting option.

The veteran player fully validated Steve Borthwick's faith by selecting him facing the Kiwis, but the Sale Sharks playmaker produced a man-of-the-match display to support the home team to a first win versus the Kiwis on home soil for the first time since 2012.

The decisive instant occurred as Ford converted back-to-back drop-goals just before the break.

This enabled the English bounce back from being down 12-0 to narrow the gap to 12-11 at the break, prior to the coach's talented substitutes repeatedly excelled during the final period to assist the team to a comfortable 33-19 win.

"Credit must be given to the veteran members on our squad, notably George," the manager commented. "In that moment when he converted those crucial kicks, he managed the game remarkably well.

"One year earlier I thought George entered and performed really well [versus the All Blacks].

"A kick hit the post and he tried a difficult drop-goal, however his play was outstanding.

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

Drop-goals 'part of the strategy'

New Zealand began rapidly during the match, racing into a 12-point lead through scores from Leicester Fainga'anuku and Codie Taylor.

After Lawrence's impressive score, Ford's back-to-back drop-goals ensured England entered the locker room with the momentum.

"The challenging thing in those moments is, when the scoreboard says twelve to zero, we must maintain to our strategy and our convictions the optimal approach to perform is," Ford said.

"We worked our way back into it and we understood should we begin the final period strongly, as reserves joined, we found ourselves in an advantageous spot.

"Despite having 15 minutes left, we ended up near our try line with a yellow card, thus we encountered obstacles during that phase also.

"I think that's what elite competition requires - who can deal with those moments superiorly."

Both kicks occurred within a two-minute span as the fly-half who executed three drop-kicks in a successful match against Argentina in the last global tournament, demonstrated his full 104-cap experience.

Ford successfully executed two drop-goals with Sale in a league contest conducted in difficult conditions at Bath - this demonstrates a talent he has mastered thoroughly.

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

"Borthwick represents a phenomenal leader that he is always advising me, and rightly so because three points are crucial during any phase of the game."

Ford marshalled England excellently throughout the match the entire match, executing intelligent kicks - both in contestable situations and locating gaps behind the visitors' backfield.

His trademark 'spiral bomb' additionally troubled the opposing fullback, who couldn't collect.

Following his start in the English victory versus the Wallabies in early November, Ford passed on the number 10 jersey to Fin Smith against Fiji seven days later.

However the greatest challenge on paper this autumn was presented by the multiple World Cup winners, so Ford returned to his spot.

The English team, presently maintaining ten consecutive victories, play against Argentina on 23 November and it will be interesting to learn if Borthwick goes back for the younger Smith or maintains Ford.

Regardless of the selection, Ford established with two years remaining before the World Cup that there is plenty of rugby left in him.