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During November 2024, national team playmaker George Ford cut a dejected figure at Allianz Stadium.

Ford had been summoned off the sidelines to help the home side complete a memorable triumph against New Zealand, however was unable to score a late penalty and drop-goal as his side fell short in a close contest.

Following those costly misses, the player was required to strive to get another shot at delivering glory to the English team.

He saw just 25 minutes of action in the recent Six Nations yet multiple strong showings, especially during the summer tour against Argentina and the USA when the Smith players were absent for British and Irish Lions duty, reestablished him strongly in the starting mix.

The veteran player fully validated the manager's confidence in starting him versus New Zealand, but the Sale Sharks playmaker delivered a player-of-the-match performance to assist the hosts to their initial victory versus the Kiwis on home soil since 2012.

The decisive instant in the game Ford nailed back-to-back drop-goals right before half-time.

It helped England bounce back from being down 12-0 to narrow the gap to 12-11 at the break, ahead of the manager's skilled reserves repeatedly excelled during the final period to support England to a convincing 33-19 victory.

"You have to give credit to the experienced players in our team, notably George," Borthwick told. "In that moment where he hit those crucial kicks, he managed the game just incredibly.

"One year earlier I believed Ford entered and performed very effectively [versus the All Blacks].

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

"He's a tremendous guide, a superb performer plus a better human being. We are fortunate to include him in our squad."

Drop-kicks 'consistently planned'

The Kiwis started quickly in the stadium, racing into a 12-point lead through scores from Fainga'anuku and Taylor.

Subsequent to Ollie Lawrence's strong try, Ford's back-to-back drop-kicks resulted in the home side bounced into the changing rooms with renewed energy.

"The challenging thing at those times is, when the scoreboard says a twelve-point deficit, we must maintain to our strategy and our convictions the superior method to play the game is," Ford said.

"We fought our way back into it and we knew should we begin the final period strongly, with substitutes entering, we would be in a good position.

"Despite having fifteen minutes to go, we ended up near our try line with a yellow card, thus we encountered obstacles in that instance too.

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

Both kicks happened within close succession as Ford who successfully converted three drop-goals during a victory against Argentina at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, showed all his international experience.

Ford successfully executed two three-pointers representing Sale during a Premiership match conducted in difficult conditions against Bath - this represents an ability he has extensively practiced.

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

"Borthwick represents an incredible coach that he is always advising me, and correctly so since three points prove important during any phase of the game."

Ford directed his team superbly throughout the match the complete contest, executing intelligent kicks - both to compete and in finding space against the defensive line.

His trademark tactical bomb also bamboozled Beauden Barrett, who failed to regather.

Having started the national team's triumph over Australia during the autumn series, Ford handed over the starting role to Fin Smith during the Fiji match the following week.

Yet the most significant examination in terms of difficulty came against the experienced New Zealand team, so Ford returned to his position.

England, currently enjoying 10 straight wins, meet Argentina in late November and curiosity remains to discover if the manager opts to Fin Smith or maintains Ford.

Whichever decision is made, Ford demonstrated with two years remaining prior to global competition that ample opportunity of rugby left within him.