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In November 2024, national team playmaker George Ford cut a dejected figure at Allianz Stadium.

He was called upon off the sidelines to assist England close out a famous win against New Zealand, but instead was unable to score a decisive kick plus a drop-goal attempt as his side were beaten by a narrow margin.

In the wake of those pivotal failures, the player was required to strive to get another shot to bring victory for the national side.

He played only 25 minutes throughout the Six Nations tournament yet multiple excellent displays, notably in the summer tour against Argentina and the USA while Fin Smith and Marcus Smith were away on Lions team responsibilities, put him firmly back among starting candidates.

The veteran player did more than justify the manager's confidence through his selection against the All Blacks, but the Sale Sharks playmaker delivered a player-of-the-match performance to support the hosts to a first win versus the Kiwis at home since 2012.

The pivotal moment in the game Ford converted back-to-back drop-goals immediately preceding halftime.

It helped England recover from 12-0 down to reduce the margin to 12-11 at the break, before Borthwick's star-studded bench once more performed after halftime to help his side to a decisive 33-19 win.

"Credit must be given to the veteran members within our side, particularly Ford," the manager commented. "In that moment as he scored those crucial kicks, he directed play remarkably well.

"One year earlier I thought George entered and performed really well [versus the All Blacks].

"One kick struck the post while he attempted a drop-goal under pressure, but he played really well.

"He is a phenomenal leader, a superb performer and an even finer individual. We are privileged to have him within our roster."

Drop-kicks 'consistently planned'

The Kiwis started quickly in the stadium, building a twelve-point advantage via touchdowns by Leicester Fainga'anuku and Codie Taylor.

Following Ollie Lawrence's impressive score, the fly-half's successive three-pointers meant the hosts entered the halftime break with psychological advantage.

"The challenging thing at those times occurs as the display indicates twelve to zero, we can stick to our strategy and our convictions the superior method to compete is," Ford stated.

"We got ourselves back into it and we knew should we begin the second half well, with substitutes entering, we would be in an advantageous spot.

"Although facing a quarter-hour remaining, we ended up on our own line with a yellow card, so we had challenges in that instance too.

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

The two attempts happened within a two-minute span while the number 10 who successfully converted three crucial kicks in a successful match facing the Argentine team during the 2023 World Cup, showed all his 104-cap experience.

Ford hit two three-pointers representing Sale in a Prem game played in tough circumstances at Bath - this demonstrates a talent he has mastered thoroughly.

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

"Borthwick represents a phenomenal leader that he consistently in my ear about it, and rightly so since three points is valuable throughout the match of the game."

Ford guided his side brilliantly across the pitch the entire match, kicking smartly - both in contestable situations and identifying openings behind the visitors' backfield.

His trademark high spiral kick additionally troubled Beauden Barrett, who failed to regather.

Having started the English victory versus the Wallabies during the autumn series, Ford relinquished the fly-half position to Fin Smith for the Fiji victory seven days later.

However the greatest challenge theoretically this season came against the multiple World Cup winners, so Ford returned to his spot.

England, currently enjoying 10 straight wins, meet Argentina in late November creating intrigue to discover if the manager opts for the younger Smith or maintains Ford.

Whatever choice occurs, Ford demonstrated with two years remaining from a World Cup that significant amounts of rugby left within him.