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During November 2024, national team playmaker George Ford looked disheartened during the match.

The replacement was brought on as a substitute to help the home side secure a famous win facing the Kiwis, but instead was unable to score a late penalty along with a drop-kick as England were beaten by two points.

In the wake of those pivotal failures, Ford had to work hard to get another shot to bring victory for England.

His playing time was limited to 25 minutes throughout the Six Nations tournament however a series of strong showings, especially during the summer tour of Argentina and the United States as Fin Smith and Marcus Smith had departed for Lions team responsibilities, reestablished him strongly in the starting mix.

The 32-year-old did more than justify Steve Borthwick's faith through his selection against the All Blacks, but the Sale Sharks playmaker produced a man-of-the-match display to help England to a first win versus the Kiwis at home ending a drought dating to 2012.

The crucial point came when Ford converted consecutive drop-kicks just before the break.

It helped England overcome a 12-0 deficit to trail 12-11 by halftime, before Borthwick's star-studded bench repeatedly excelled during the final period to help his side to a convincing 33-19 triumph.

"Credit must be given to the experienced players on our squad, particularly Ford," Borthwick told. "That period where he hit those crucial kicks, he controlled the match remarkably well.

"Last year In my view George came on and played really well [facing the Kiwis].

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

"He is a phenomenal leader, an outstanding athlete plus a better human being. We are honored to include him in our squad."

Drop-goals 'part of the strategy'

The All Blacks commenced strongly at Allianz Stadium, racing into a 12-point lead via touchdowns by two key players.

Following Ollie Lawrence's impressive score, Ford's consecutive drop-goals ensured England bounced into the halftime break with psychological advantage.

"The challenging thing at those times occurs as the display indicates a twelve-point deficit, we must maintain 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 recognized were we to commence the latter half effectively, with substitutes entering, we found ourselves in an advantageous spot.

"Although facing 15 minutes left, we found ourselves defending our goal line with a yellow card, so we had challenges during that phase also.

"I believe this illustrates elite competition requires - who manages best in those circumstances the best."

Each effort occurred within a two-minute span while the number 10 who executed three drop-kicks during a victory against Argentina during the 2023 World Cup, showed all his century of caps experience.

Ford successfully executed two three-pointers for Sale in a league contest conducted in challenging weather at Bath - this represents an ability he is well-practised in.

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

"The coach is such an outstanding manager that he consistently in my ear about it, and appropriately because three points prove important during any phase of the game."

Ford directed England excellently throughout the match the entire match, kicking smartly - both to compete and locating gaps in the opposition's territory.

His signature tactical bomb further confused the opposing fullback, who failed to regather.

After beginning the national team's triumph over Australia on 1 November, Ford passed on the fly-half position to his replacement against Fiji seven days later.

But the biggest test theoretically this season was presented by the experienced New Zealand team, and Ford reclaimed his position.

The national side, now on a run of ten consecutive victories, meet Argentina in late November creating intrigue to discover if the manager opts for the younger Smith or persists with Ford.

Regardless of the selection, Ford established ahead of the next tournament prior to global competition that there is plenty of rugby left within him.