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In November 2024, English number 10 George Ford appeared disappointed during the match.

He was called upon off the sidelines to support the home side secure a memorable triumph versus the All Blacks, but instead failed to convert a crucial penalty along with a drop-kick while his team were beaten by a narrow margin.

Following those costly misses, Ford had to work hard to get another shot to achieve success for the national side.

He saw just 25 minutes of action in the recent Six Nations but a string of strong showings, particularly on the warm-weather tour versus Argentine and American teams when the Smith players were away on Lions tour commitments, returned him solidly among starting candidates.

The 32-year-old not only repaid the manager's confidence through his selection facing the Kiwis, but the Sale Sharks playmaker delivered a player-of-the-match performance to help the home team to a breakthrough triumph against the All Blacks in their own stadium since 2012.

The pivotal moment in the game Ford converted consecutive drop-kicks just before the break.

It helped England bounce back from being down 12-0 to narrow the gap to 12-11 when the half ended, ahead of the manager's skilled reserves again delivered after halftime to help his side to a decisive 33-19 triumph.

"Credit must be given to the veteran members in our team, notably George," the manager commented. "That period where he hit those drop-goals, he directed play remarkably well.

"Last year I believed Ford substituted and competed very effectively [facing the Kiwis].

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

"He's an exceptional captain, an outstanding athlete plus a better human being. We are fortunate to include him on our team."

Drop-kicks 'consistently planned'

The All Blacks began rapidly in the stadium, surging to a substantial early margin through scores from Fainga'anuku and Taylor.

After Lawrence's impressive score, Ford's consecutive three-pointers resulted in the home side returned to the changing rooms with the momentum.

"The tough part in those moments comes when the board shows a twelve-point deficit, we can stick to our strategy and our philosophy the best way to compete is," Ford said.

"We got ourselves back into contention and we understood if we started the second half well, with substitutes entering, we were in an advantageous spot.

"Despite having fifteen minutes to go, we ended up on our own line with a yellow card, thus we encountered obstacles there as well.

"In my opinion that represents elite competition requires - which team can handle during those situations superiorly."

The two attempts happened within close succession as Ford who nailed three crucial kicks during a victory facing the Argentine team during the 2023 World Cup, showed all his 104-cap experience.

Ford hit two three-pointers representing Sale during a Premiership match conducted in challenging weather versus Bath - it is a skill he has mastered thoroughly.

"It [the drop-goals] are consistently planned," Ford stated further.

"Borthwick represents an incredible coach since he continually in my ear about it, and correctly so as three points are crucial at any stage of play."

Ford directed his team superbly throughout the match all game, executing intelligent kicks - 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 national team's triumph versus the Wallabies in early November, Ford relinquished the number 10 jersey to the younger Smith for the Fiji victory seven days later.

However the greatest challenge in terms of difficulty occurred versus the multiple World Cup winners, so Ford returned to his starting role.

England, currently enjoying an unbeaten streak of ten, face Argentina on 23 November creating intrigue to determine if Borthwick goes back to Fin Smith or continues with Ford.

Whichever decision is made, Ford established two years away before the World Cup that ample opportunity of rugby left within him.