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During November 2024, English number 10 Ford appeared disappointed on the Allianz Stadium turf.

He was called upon from the bench to assist the home side close out a famous win against New Zealand, but instead missed a late penalty and drop-goal while his team lost by two points.

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

He played only 25 minutes in the recent Six Nations but a string of excellent displays, especially during the summer tour versus Argentine and American teams as Fin Smith and Marcus Smith had departed for British and Irish Lions duty, reestablished him strongly as a starting option.

At 32 years old fully validated the manager's confidence in starting him facing the Kiwis, but the Sale Sharks playmaker produced a man-of-the-match display to assist England to a breakthrough triumph against the All Blacks at home for the first time since 2012.

The crucial point in the game Ford successfully executed two drop-goals in succession just before the break.

This enabled the English overcome a 12-0 deficit to narrow the gap to 12-11 when the half ended, before Borthwick's star-studded bench once more performed in the second half to help his side to a decisive 33-19 triumph.

"You have to give credit to the experienced players within our side, particularly Ford," the manager commented. "During that phase when he converted those crucial kicks, he controlled the match remarkably well.

"One year earlier I thought George entered and performed exceptionally well [facing the Kiwis].

"A kick hit the post while he attempted a drop-goal under pressure, but he played really well.

"He's an exceptional captain, an outstanding athlete and an even finer individual. We are fortunate to have him in our squad."

Drop-goals 'always in the plan'

New Zealand started quickly at Allianz Stadium, building a substantial early margin via touchdowns by Fainga'anuku and Taylor.

Subsequent to Ollie Lawrence's powerful finish, Ford's consecutive drop-goals resulted in the home side bounced into the halftime break with psychological advantage.

"The difficult aspect at those times occurs as the display indicates twelve to zero, we must maintain to our guns and what we believe the best way to play the game is," Ford stated.

"We worked our way back into it and we knew if we started the second half well, with substitutes entering, we would be in a favorable situation.

"Even with fifteen minutes to go, we found ourselves near our try line after a penalty, thus we encountered obstacles during that phase also.

"In my opinion that represents Test rugby is - who manages best in those circumstances the best."

Each effort happened within a two-minute span as the fly-half who successfully converted three drop-kicks in a win versus Argentina during the 2023 World Cup, demonstrated his full century of caps experience.

Ford converted two drop-kicks representing Sale during a Premiership match occurring during challenging weather against Bath - this demonstrates a talent he has extensively practiced.

"These attempts form part of our strategy," Ford continued.

"Steve is such an outstanding manager that he is always reminding me, and appropriately because three points prove important at any stage of the game."

Ford guided his team superbly across the pitch all game, kicking smartly - both to compete and identifying openings in the opposition's territory.

His signature 'spiral bomb' additionally troubled Beauden Barrett, who failed to regather.

Following his start in the national team's triumph versus the Wallabies during the autumn series, Ford handed over the fly-half position to the younger Smith against Fiji the following week.

But the biggest test on paper this autumn came against the experienced New Zealand team, so Ford returned to his spot.

The English team, now on a run of an unbeaten streak of ten, face Argentina on 23 November and it will be interesting to discover if Borthwick goes back with the alternative or persists with Ford.

Whatever choice occurs, Ford demonstrated with two years remaining from a World Cup that ample opportunity of rugby left for him.