Outstanding Ford Crucial to Defeating New Zealand

During November 2024, national team playmaker Ford cut a dejected figure on the Allianz Stadium turf.

Ford had been summoned as a substitute to assist the home side close out a famous win versus the All Blacks, but instead was unable to score a crucial penalty and drop-goal as England lost by a narrow margin.

Following those costly misses, the player was required to strive to get another shot to achieve success to the English team.

His playing time was limited to 25 minutes throughout the Six Nations tournament but a string of strong showings, notably in the warm-weather tour of Argentina and the United States as Fin Smith and Marcus Smith were absent for British and Irish Lions duty, put him firmly back among starting candidates.

The 32-year-old not only repaid the coach's trust by selecting him against the All Blacks, and the Sharks star achieved a best-player showing to support the home team to a first win against the All Blacks on home soil for the first time since 2012.

The decisive instant in the game Ford nailed consecutive drop-kicks right before half-time.

It helped England overcome a 12-0 deficit to trail 12-11 when the half ended, ahead of the manager's skilled reserves repeatedly excelled in the second half to support England to a comfortable 33-19 win.

"You have to give credit to the veteran members on our squad, notably George," the manager commented. "During that phase as he scored those crucial kicks, he managed the game remarkably well.

"Twelve months ago In my view George came on and played really well [against New Zealand].

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

"He's an exceptional captain, a brilliant player and an even better person. We are privileged to feature him in our squad."

Drop-goals 'always in the plan'

New Zealand commenced strongly in the stadium, surging to a substantial early margin through scores from Fainga'anuku and Taylor.

Following Ollie Lawrence's impressive score, the fly-half's successive drop-goals ensured England returned to the halftime break with the momentum.

"The tough part at those times occurs as the display indicates a twelve-point deficit, we can stick to our strategy and our convictions the best way to perform is," Ford stated.

"We got ourselves back into the game and we understood were we to commence the second half well, as reserves joined, we found ourselves in an advantageous spot.

"Even with a quarter-hour remaining, we were positioned near our try line with a yellow card, thus we encountered obstacles there as well.

"I think that's what Test rugby is - which team can handle in those circumstances superiorly."

Both kicks happened within two minutes of each other as the fly-half who nailed three drop-goals during a victory versus Argentina at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, displayed his complete century of caps experience.

Ford converted two three-pointers representing Sale during a Premiership match played in challenging weather against Bath - this demonstrates a talent he has extensively practiced.

"The drop-kicks is always in the plan," Ford added.

"The coach is such a phenomenal leader that he consistently reminding me, and correctly so because three points prove important during any phase of the game."

Ford marshalled his team superbly across the pitch the complete contest, executing intelligent kicks - both in contestable situations and in finding space in the opposition's territory.

His signature tactical bomb also bamboozled the opposing fullback, who failed to regather.

Following his start in the national team's triumph over Australia on 1 November, Ford passed on the number 10 jersey to his replacement against Fiji seven days later.

But the biggest test theoretically this season was presented by the three-time world champions, and Ford reclaimed his starting role.

The national side, currently enjoying an unbeaten streak of ten, face Argentina this month and it will be interesting to discover if the manager opts to Fin Smith or continues with Ford.

Regardless of the selection, Ford demonstrated ahead of the next tournament from a World Cup that ample opportunity of rugby left for him.