Phenomenal Ford Central to Overcoming New Zealand
Ford earned the starting role to begin versus the All Blacks instead of the Smith alternatives.
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In November 2024, national team playmaker Ford looked disheartened at Allianz Stadium.
He was called upon as a substitute to assist the home side secure an historic victory against New Zealand, but instead missed a late penalty along with a drop-kick while his team fell short by a narrow margin.
In the wake of those pivotal failures, Ford had to work hard to earn another opportunity to bring victory for the national side.
He saw just 25 minutes of action in the recent Six Nations but a string of excellent displays, especially during the summer matches against Argentina and the USA when the Smith players had departed for British and Irish Lions duty, reestablished him strongly as a starting option.
At 32 years old not only repaid the coach's trust in starting him facing the Kiwis, but the Sale Sharks playmaker produced a man-of-the-match display to assist the hosts to a breakthrough triumph against the All Blacks on home soil ending a drought dating to 2012.
The decisive instant occurred as Ford converted two drop-goals in succession right before half-time.
This assisted England overcome a 12-0 deficit to reduce the margin to 12-11 at the break, prior to the coach's talented substitutes again delivered after halftime to support England to a convincing 33-19 victory.
"You have to give credit to the senior players within our side, particularly Ford," the coach stated. "That period as he scored those drop-kicks, he managed the game just incredibly.
"Twelve months ago I thought George came on and played very effectively [facing the Kiwis].
"One kick struck the post while he attempted a pressured drop-kick, yet he performed excellently.
"He's a tremendous guide, a brilliant player plus a better human being. We are honored to have him on our team."
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Drop-goals 'part of the strategy'
Back in 2024, Ford's failed attempts in kicking were expensive as the team was defeated by the All Blacks - however it proved an alternate outcome on Saturday.
The Kiwis started quickly at Allianz Stadium, building a substantial early margin via touchdowns by two key players.
Following Ollie Lawrence's powerful finish, Ford's back-to-back drop-kicks resulted in the home side returned to the halftime break with the momentum.
"The difficult aspect in those moments comes when the board shows twelve to zero, we are able to adhere to our strategy and our convictions the optimal approach to compete is," Ford said.
"We fought our way back into contention and we understood should we begin the latter half effectively, with the bench coming on, we found ourselves in a favorable situation.
"Even with a quarter-hour remaining, we were positioned defending our goal line following a card, so we had challenges in that instance too.
"I believe this illustrates international rugby involves - who manages best in those circumstances most effectively."
The two attempts occurred within two minutes of each other as the fly-half who nailed three crucial kicks in a win versus Argentina during the 2023 World Cup, displayed his complete international experience.
Ford converted two three-pointers representing Sale during a Premiership match conducted in tough circumstances at Bath - this demonstrates a talent he is well-practised in.
"It [the drop-goals] is always in the plan," Ford added.
"Steve is such an incredible coach since he continually in my ear about it, and appropriately since three points is valuable at any stage of play."
Ford directed his side brilliantly across the pitch the complete contest, kicking smartly - both to compete and identifying openings behind the visitors' backfield.
His characteristic 'spiral bomb' further confused the New Zealand player, who couldn't collect.
Having started the English victory versus the Wallabies during the autumn series, Ford passed on the starting role to Fin Smith against Fiji the following week.
However the greatest challenge in terms of difficulty was presented by the experienced New Zealand team, and Ford reclaimed his starting role.
England, currently enjoying 10 straight wins, meet Argentina in late November and it will be interesting to learn if the manager opts with the alternative or maintains Ford.
Whichever decision is made, Ford proved two years away from a World Cup that there is plenty of rugby left within him.
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