🔗 Share this article

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

He was called upon off the sidelines to help England secure a memorable triumph facing the Kiwis, yet was unable to score a decisive kick and drop-goal while his team fell short by a narrow margin.

After those expensive errors, the player was required to strive to secure another chance to bring victory to the English team.

His playing time was limited to 25 minutes throughout the Six Nations tournament but a string of excellent displays, particularly on the warm-weather tour of Argentina and the United States when the Smith players were away on Lions tour commitments, put him firmly back among starting candidates.

At 32 years old did more than justify Steve Borthwick's faith in starting him against the All Blacks, and the Sharks star delivered a player-of-the-match performance to help the home team to their initial victory versus the Kiwis in their own stadium ending a drought dating to 2012.

The crucial point came when Ford successfully executed back-to-back drop-goals right before half-time.

This enabled the English overcome a 12-0 deficit to trail 12-11 at the break, before Borthwick's star-studded bench again delivered in the second half to assist the team to a decisive 33-19 triumph.

"Recognition should be offered to the veteran members on our squad, particularly Ford," the manager commented. "In that moment as he scored those drop-kicks, he controlled the match just incredibly.

"One year earlier In my view George came on and played really well [versus the All Blacks].

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

"He is a phenomenal leader, a brilliant player plus a better human being. We are privileged to include him within our roster."

Drop-kicks 'consistently planned'

The All Blacks began rapidly in the stadium, surging to a substantial early margin via touchdowns by Fainga'anuku and Taylor.

Subsequent to Ollie Lawrence's strong try, Ford's back-to-back drop-goals resulted in the home side bounced into the locker room with the momentum.

"The challenging thing in those moments occurs as the display indicates twelve to zero, we are able to adhere to our strategy and what we believe the superior method to play the game is," Ford said.

"We fought our way back into it and we understood were we to commence the latter half effectively, as reserves joined, we would be in a good position.

"Despite having a quarter-hour remaining, we ended up defending our goal line after a penalty, meaning we faced difficulties in that instance too.

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

Both kicks happened within close succession as Ford who successfully converted three crucial kicks in a successful match facing the Argentine team at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, showed all his international experience.

Ford successfully executed two drop-goals for Sale in a Prem game conducted in tough circumstances at Bath - it is a skill he has extensively practiced.

"It [the drop-goals] is always in the plan," Ford continued.

"Steve is such an incredible coach since he continually advising me, and appropriately since three points is valuable at any stage of competition."

Ford directed his side brilliantly around the field the entire match, kicking smartly - both to compete and locating gaps behind the visitors' backfield.

His trademark tactical bomb also bamboozled the New Zealand player, who couldn't collect.

After beginning the national team's triumph against Australia on 1 November, Ford passed on the number 10 jersey to Fin Smith against Fiji the following week.

But the biggest test theoretically this season was presented by the multiple World Cup winners, with Ford regaining his starting role.

The English team, currently enjoying an unbeaten streak of ten, play against Argentina in late November and it will be interesting to learn if the manager opts to Fin Smith or persists with Ford.

Regardless of the selection, Ford demonstrated with two years remaining before the World Cup that there is plenty of career ahead for him.