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In November 2024, national team playmaker George Ford looked disheartened on the Allianz Stadium turf.

He was called upon off the sidelines to assist the hosts close out a famous win facing the Kiwis, but instead missed a crucial penalty and drop-goal while his team were beaten by two points.

After those expensive errors, the player was required to strive to get another shot to achieve success for England.

His playing time was limited to 25 minutes in the recent Six Nations but a string of excellent displays, particularly on the warm-weather tour of Argentina and the United States when the Smith players were absent for Lions team responsibilities, reestablished him strongly as a starting option.

The 32-year-old fully validated the manager's confidence through his selection versus New Zealand, plus the club standout achieved a best-player showing to help the hosts to a breakthrough triumph over New Zealand in their own stadium since 2012.

The crucial point occurred as Ford successfully executed consecutive drop-kicks just before the break.

This assisted England overcome a 12-0 deficit to trail 12-11 at the break, before Borthwick's star-studded bench again delivered during the final period to assist the team to a comfortable 33-19 triumph.

"Recognition should be offered to the experienced players in our team, notably George," Borthwick told. "During that phase when he converted those drop-kicks, he managed the game absolutely brilliantly.

"Last year In my view George substituted and competed very effectively [facing the Kiwis].

"One kick struck the post while he attempted a pressured drop-kick, yet he performed excellently.

"He is a phenomenal leader, an outstanding athlete and an even finer individual. We are privileged to feature him on our team."

Drop-goals 'part of the strategy'

The All Blacks commenced strongly at Allianz Stadium, surging to a substantial early margin through scores from Fainga'anuku and Taylor.

Subsequent to Ollie Lawrence's powerful finish, the fly-half's successive three-pointers meant the hosts returned to the changing rooms with renewed energy.

"The tough part during those periods comes when the board shows a twelve-point deficit, we must maintain to our strategy and our convictions the superior method to perform is," Ford explained.

"We worked our way back into the game and we knew were we to commence the final period strongly, as reserves joined, we found ourselves in an advantageous spot.

"Despite having a quarter-hour remaining, we were positioned on our own line after a penalty, meaning we faced difficulties in that instance too.

"I believe this illustrates international rugby involves - who manages best with those moments most effectively."

Each effort came within two minutes of each other as Ford who executed three drop-kicks in a successful match facing the Argentine team at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, displayed his complete international experience.

Ford successfully executed two drop-kicks representing Sale in a Prem game conducted in challenging weather against Bath - this demonstrates a talent he has mastered thoroughly.

"It [the drop-goals] is always in the plan," Ford stated further.

"Steve is such a phenomenal leader that he is always reminding me, and rightly so as three points prove important throughout the match of competition."

Ford directed his team superbly around the field the entire match, making smart decisions - for both attacking and defensive purposes and locating gaps behind the visitors' backfield.

His trademark 'spiral bomb' additionally troubled the opposing fullback, who failed to regather.

Following his start in the English victory versus the Wallabies during the autumn series, Ford relinquished the number 10 jersey to Fin Smith for the Fiji victory seven days later.

Yet the most significant examination theoretically this season came against the experienced New Zealand team, so Ford returned to his spot.

The English team, currently enjoying an unbeaten streak of ten, meet Argentina in late November and curiosity remains to learn if Borthwick goes back for the younger Smith or persists with Ford.

Regardless of the selection, Ford proved ahead of the next tournament before the World Cup that there is plenty of career ahead in him.