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During November 2024, national team playmaker George Ford appeared disappointed at Allianz Stadium.

Ford had been summoned off the sidelines to support England complete a memorable triumph facing the Kiwis, yet was unable to score a late penalty and drop-goal as his side lost in a close contest.

After those expensive errors, Ford needed to put in effort to get another shot to bring victory 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 against Argentina and the USA as Fin Smith and Marcus Smith were away on Lions tour commitments, put him firmly back as a starting option.

The 32-year-old fully validated Steve Borthwick's faith by selecting him facing the Kiwis, but the Sale Sharks playmaker produced a man-of-the-match display to support England to a first win versus the Kiwis in their own stadium for the first time since 2012.

The pivotal moment occurred as Ford nailed consecutive drop-kicks immediately preceding halftime.

It helped England bounce back from being down 12-0 to reduce the margin to 12-11 when the half ended, prior to the coach's talented substitutes once more performed in the second half to help his side to a convincing 33-19 triumph.

"Credit must be given to the senior players on our squad, notably George," Borthwick told. "In that moment when he converted those drop-goals, he managed the game absolutely brilliantly.

"Last year I thought George substituted and competed very effectively [against New Zealand].

"A kick hit the post and he tried a difficult drop-goal, however his play was outstanding.

"He's an exceptional captain, an outstanding athlete and an even better person. We are fortunate to have him on our team."

Drop-goals 'always in the plan'

The All Blacks started quickly in the stadium, building a 12-point lead with tries by Fainga'anuku and Taylor.

Subsequent to Ollie Lawrence's strong try, the fly-half's successive drop-goals meant the hosts bounced into the changing rooms with renewed energy.

"The tough part during those periods is, when the scoreboard says a twelve-point deficit, we can stick to our guns and our convictions the superior method to perform is," Ford said.

"We got ourselves back into the game and we understood if we started the latter half effectively, with substitutes entering, we found ourselves in a good position.

"Even with fifteen minutes to go, we ended up on our own line following a card, thus we encountered obstacles in that instance too.

"I think that's what Test rugby is - who can deal in those circumstances most effectively."

Both kicks happened within a two-minute span as Ford who successfully converted three drop-goals during a victory versus Argentina during the 2023 World Cup, displayed his complete century of caps experience.

Ford hit two drop-goals with Sale in a Prem game occurring during tough circumstances against Bath - this represents an ability he has mastered thoroughly.

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

"Steve is such an outstanding manager that he is always in my ear about it, and correctly so since three points prove important throughout the match of play."

Ford directed his side brilliantly across the pitch the complete contest, executing intelligent kicks - for both attacking and defensive purposes and locating gaps behind the visitors' backfield.

His trademark 'spiral bomb' also bamboozled Beauden Barrett, who failed to regather.

Having started the national team's triumph against Australia during the autumn series, Ford handed over the starting role to Fin Smith against Fiji a week later.

But the biggest test theoretically this season came against the three-time world champions, with Ford regaining his spot.

England, currently enjoying ten consecutive victories, face Argentina this month and it will be interesting to discover if the manager opts with the alternative or persists with Ford.

Whichever decision is made, Ford established two years away prior to global competition that ample opportunity of career ahead within him.