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During November 2024, national team playmaker Ford looked disheartened during the match.

He was called upon from the bench to help the home side close out an historic victory facing the Kiwis, however failed to convert a decisive kick and drop-goal while his team lost by a narrow margin.

After those expensive errors, Ford needed to put in effort to earn another opportunity to achieve success for England.

He played only 25 minutes throughout the Six Nations tournament yet multiple excellent displays, notably in the summer matches of Argentina and the United States while Fin Smith and Marcus Smith had departed for Lions team responsibilities, put him firmly back in the starting mix.

The veteran player fully validated the manager's confidence by selecting him against the All Blacks, and the Sharks star produced a man-of-the-match display to assist the home team to their initial victory against the All Blacks at home since 2012.

The pivotal moment in the game Ford nailed back-to-back drop-goals immediately preceding halftime.

It helped England recover from 12-0 down to narrow the gap to 12-11 when the half ended, prior to the coach's talented substitutes again delivered in the second half to support England to a comfortable 33-19 triumph.

"You have to give credit to the senior players in our team, particularly Ford," the manager commented. "In that moment as he scored those crucial kicks, he managed the game remarkably well.

"Twelve months ago In my view George substituted and competed really well [against New Zealand].

"One kick struck the post and he tried a drop-goal under pressure, yet he performed excellently.

"He's an exceptional captain, an outstanding athlete and an even better person. We are privileged to include him within our roster."

Drop-kicks 'consistently planned'

The All Blacks commenced strongly during the match, building a 12-point lead via touchdowns by Fainga'anuku and Taylor.

Subsequent to Ollie Lawrence's powerful finish, Ford's consecutive drop-kicks meant the hosts entered the halftime break with renewed energy.

"The difficult aspect in those moments occurs as the display indicates a twelve-point deficit, we can stick to our strategy and our convictions the optimal approach to play the game is," Ford stated.

"We got ourselves back into it and we understood were we to commence the final period strongly, with substitutes entering, we found ourselves in a good position.

"Even with 15 minutes left, we found ourselves defending our goal line after a penalty, so we had challenges during that phase also.

"In my opinion that represents elite competition requires - who can deal during those situations superiorly."

The two attempts happened within a two-minute span as the fly-half who executed three crucial kicks in a successful match facing the Argentine team during the 2023 World Cup, showed all his century of caps experience.

Ford hit two drop-goals with Sale in a Prem game occurring during tough circumstances against Bath - it is a skill he is well-practised in.

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

"The coach is such an outstanding manager that he consistently advising me, and appropriately because three points is valuable during any phase of the game."

Ford marshalled England excellently across the pitch all game, executing intelligent kicks - for both attacking and defensive purposes and locating gaps behind the visitors' backfield.

His signature high spiral kick also bamboozled the New Zealand player, who failed to regather.

Having started the English victory against Australia in early November, Ford relinquished the fly-half position to the younger Smith during the Fiji match the following week.

However the greatest challenge on paper this autumn occurred versus the experienced New Zealand team, so Ford returned to his starting role.

The national side, presently maintaining ten consecutive victories, play against Argentina in late November creating intrigue to learn if Borthwick goes back for the younger Smith or maintains Ford.

Whatever choice occurs, Ford proved two years away prior to global competition that significant amounts of career ahead within him.