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In November 2024, English number 10 Ford cut a dejected figure during the match.

The replacement was brought on off the sidelines to support the home side complete a memorable triumph versus the All Blacks, but instead was unable to score a late penalty along with a drop-kick while his team were beaten by two points.

Following those costly misses, Ford needed to put in effort to earn another opportunity to bring victory to the English team.

He saw just 25 minutes of action in the recent Six Nations yet multiple strong showings, particularly on the summer tour versus Argentine and American teams when the Smith players were away on Lions team responsibilities, reestablished him strongly in the starting mix.

The veteran player not only repaid the manager's confidence through his selection facing the Kiwis, and the Sharks star delivered a player-of-the-match performance to assist the hosts to a breakthrough triumph versus the Kiwis at home since 2012.

The crucial point came when Ford converted back-to-back drop-goals just before the break.

This enabled the English bounce back from being down 12-0 to trail 12-11 by halftime, ahead of the manager's skilled reserves repeatedly excelled in the second half to help his side to a decisive 33-19 triumph.

"You have to give credit to the experienced players within our side, especially George," the coach stated. "That period when he converted those drop-goals, he directed play remarkably well.

"One year earlier I thought George substituted and competed very effectively [facing the Kiwis].

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

"He's an exceptional captain, a brilliant player plus a better human being. We are honored to include him on our team."

Drop-goals 'always in the plan'

The Kiwis began rapidly in the stadium, building a substantial early margin with tries by two key players.

Following Ollie Lawrence's impressive score, the fly-half's successive three-pointers meant the hosts returned to the changing rooms with the momentum.

"The difficult aspect during those periods is, when the scoreboard says twelve to zero, we can stick to our guns and our philosophy the optimal approach to play the game is," Ford explained.

"We fought our way back into it and we understood if we started the latter half effectively, with the bench coming on, we found ourselves in a good position.

"Although facing 15 minutes left, we found ourselves near our try line with a yellow card, thus we encountered obstacles there as well.

"I believe this illustrates Test rugby is - which team can handle during those situations superiorly."

Both kicks came within two minutes of each other as the fly-half who successfully converted three crucial kicks in a win versus Argentina during the 2023 World Cup, showed all his 104-cap experience.

Ford converted two drop-kicks with Sale in a Prem game conducted in difficult conditions at Bath - it is a skill he has extensively practiced.

"It [the drop-goals] is always in the plan," Ford stated further.

"Steve is such a phenomenal leader that he consistently in my ear about it, and rightly so as three points are crucial at any stage of the game."

Ford marshalled England excellently across the pitch the complete contest, kicking smartly - both to compete and locating gaps behind the visitors' backfield.

His characteristic 'spiral bomb' also bamboozled Beauden Barrett, who couldn't collect.

Following his start in the national team's triumph against Australia on 1 November, Ford handed over the number 10 jersey to Fin Smith for the Fiji victory the following week.

However the greatest challenge on paper this autumn was presented by the experienced New Zealand team, and Ford reclaimed his position.

England, now on a run of an unbeaten streak of ten, play against Argentina this month creating intrigue to determine if the manager opts for the younger Smith or persists with Ford.

Whatever choice occurs, Ford demonstrated ahead of the next tournament from a World Cup that significant amounts of play remaining within him.