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In November 2024, national team playmaker George Ford cut a dejected figure during the match.

He was called upon as a substitute to help the home side close out a famous win versus the All Blacks, but instead failed to convert a decisive kick along with a drop-kick while his team lost by two points.

After those expensive errors, Ford needed to put in effort to secure another chance to achieve success to the English team.

He saw just 25 minutes of action during this year's Six Nations but a string of impressive performances, especially during the summer matches of Argentina and the United States while Fin Smith and Marcus Smith had departed for British and Irish Lions duty, reestablished him strongly in the starting mix.

At 32 years old fully validated the manager's confidence by selecting him facing the Kiwis, but the Sale Sharks playmaker delivered a player-of-the-match performance to help England to their initial victory against the All Blacks in their own stadium since 2012.

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

This enabled the English recover from 12-0 down to trail 12-11 at the break, prior to the coach's talented substitutes once more performed in the second half to assist the team to a comfortable 33-19 win.

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

"Last year I thought George came on and played exceptionally well [against New Zealand].

"One kick struck the post while he attempted a difficult drop-goal, but he played really well.

"He's a tremendous guide, a superb performer and an even better person. We are privileged to have him on our team."

Drop-goals 'part of the strategy'

New Zealand commenced strongly during the match, surging to a twelve-point advantage with tries by two key players.

Following Ollie Lawrence's impressive score, Ford's back-to-back drop-goals resulted in the home side bounced into the locker room with psychological advantage.

"The tough part at those times is, when the scoreboard says a twelve-point deficit, we can stick to our plan and our convictions the best way to compete is," Ford explained.

"We worked our way back into the game and we knew if we started the final period strongly, as reserves joined, we would be in a favorable situation.

"Although facing fifteen minutes to go, we were positioned defending our goal line following a card, thus we encountered obstacles in that instance too.

"I believe this illustrates Test rugby is - which team can handle with those moments superiorly."

Each effort came within a two-minute span as Ford who successfully converted three drop-goals in a win facing the Argentine team at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, showed all his century of caps experience.

Ford converted two drop-goals with Sale during a Premiership match played in difficult conditions versus Bath - it is a skill he is well-practised in.

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

"The coach is such an incredible coach that he is always advising me, and appropriately since three points is valuable throughout the match of competition."

Ford marshalled his team superbly around the field the complete contest, executing intelligent kicks - both to compete and in finding space behind the visitors' backfield.

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

Following his start in England's win over Australia during the autumn series, Ford passed on the fly-half position to his replacement against Fiji a week later.

But the biggest test in terms of difficulty came against the multiple World Cup winners, and Ford reclaimed his spot.

The English team, currently enjoying an unbeaten streak of ten, play against Argentina on 23 November and it will be interesting to learn if Borthwick goes back to Fin Smith or maintains Ford.

Regardless of the selection, Ford established two years away before the World Cup that significant amounts of rugby left within him.