Phenomenal Ford Crucial to Beating New Zealand
George Ford was selected to begin facing the Kiwis over Marcus Smith and Fin Smith.
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Back in November 2024, England fly-half Ford looked disheartened during the match.
The replacement was brought on off the sidelines to support England close out an historic victory facing the Kiwis, however was unable to score a crucial penalty plus a drop-goal attempt as his side lost in a close contest.
After those expensive errors, Ford had to work hard to secure another chance at delivering glory to the English team.
He saw just 25 minutes of action in the recent Six Nations but a string of impressive performances, especially during the warm-weather tour of Argentina and the United States when the Smith players were away on British and Irish Lions duty, returned him solidly among starting candidates.
The veteran player not only repaid Steve Borthwick's faith in starting him against the All Blacks, but the Sale Sharks playmaker achieved a best-player showing to help the home team to a first win versus the Kiwis on home soil ending a drought dating to 2012.
The decisive instant in the game Ford nailed back-to-back drop-goals immediately preceding halftime.
This enabled the English overcome a 12-0 deficit to narrow the gap to 12-11 when the half ended, prior to the coach's talented substitutes once more performed in the second half to support England to a comfortable 33-19 triumph.
"Recognition should be offered to the experienced players in our team, particularly Ford," Borthwick told. "During that phase where he hit those drop-goals, he controlled the match absolutely brilliantly.
"One year earlier I thought George entered and performed exceptionally well [facing the Kiwis].
"A attempt hit the upright and he tried a pressured drop-kick, yet he performed excellently.
"He's a tremendous guide, an outstanding athlete and an even better person. We are privileged to feature him on our team."
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Drop-goals 'part of the strategy'
In 2024, the player's errors with the boot were expensive as the team was defeated against the Kiwis - however it proved a contrasting result in the recent game.
New Zealand commenced strongly at Allianz Stadium, surging to a 12-point lead with tries by two key players.
Subsequent to Ollie Lawrence's powerful finish, the fly-half's successive three-pointers resulted in the home side returned to the locker room with psychological advantage.
"The tough part at those times comes when the board shows 12-0, we can stick to our plan and our philosophy the superior method to perform is," Ford said.
"We got ourselves back into it and we knew were we to commence the second half well, with substitutes entering, we would be in an advantageous spot.
"Even with fifteen minutes to go, we ended up near our try line after a penalty, thus we encountered obstacles during that phase also.
"I think that's what international rugby involves - who manages best in those circumstances most effectively."
The two attempts happened within two minutes of each other while the number 10 who nailed three drop-kicks in a successful match versus Argentina during the 2023 World Cup, showed all his 104-cap experience.
Ford successfully executed two drop-goals with Sale in a Prem game occurring during difficult conditions against Bath - this represents an ability he has mastered thoroughly.
"These attempts form part of our strategy," Ford continued.
"Borthwick represents an incredible coach since he continually advising me, and appropriately as three points prove important throughout the match of competition."
Ford directed his side brilliantly around the field all game, kicking smartly - both in contestable situations and in finding space against the defensive line.
His characteristic tactical bomb also bamboozled Beauden Barrett, who mishandled the ball.
Following his start in the English victory against Australia on 1 November, Ford relinquished the number 10 jersey to the younger Smith during the Fiji match the following week.
But the biggest test theoretically this season came against the three-time world champions, so Ford returned to his position.
The English team, presently maintaining an unbeaten streak of ten, face Argentina on 23 November and curiosity remains to discover if Borthwick goes back with the alternative or continues with Ford.
Regardless of the selection, Ford demonstrated two years away prior to global competition that ample opportunity of rugby left within him.
Associated subjects
- England Rugby Union
- Competition
