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Back in November 2024, national team playmaker George Ford cut a dejected figure on the Allianz Stadium turf.

Ford had been summoned as a substitute to assist the home side close out an historic victory facing the Kiwis, but instead failed to convert a decisive kick and drop-goal as his side lost by a narrow margin.

After those expensive errors, Ford needed to put in effort to get another shot at delivering glory for the national side.

He played only 25 minutes throughout the Six Nations tournament yet multiple strong showings, notably in the summer tour of Argentina and the United States while Fin Smith and Marcus Smith had departed for Lions tour commitments, reestablished him strongly among starting candidates.

At 32 years old not only repaid the manager's confidence in starting him against the All Blacks, but the Sale Sharks playmaker delivered a player-of-the-match performance to help the hosts to a breakthrough triumph against the All Blacks in their own stadium for the first time since 2012.

The pivotal moment came when Ford successfully executed two drop-goals in succession immediately preceding halftime.

This enabled the English recover from 12-0 down to narrow the gap to 12-11 at the break, ahead of the manager's skilled reserves again delivered after halftime to assist the team to a decisive 33-19 triumph.

"Recognition should be offered to the experienced players on our squad, notably George," the manager commented. "During that phase when he converted those drop-goals, he directed play absolutely brilliantly.

"One year earlier I thought George came on and played very effectively [versus the All Blacks].

"A kick hit the post and he tried a difficult drop-goal, yet he performed excellently.

"He is a phenomenal leader, a brilliant player and an even finer individual. We are fortunate to feature him within our roster."

Drop-goals 'always in the plan'

The All Blacks started quickly in the stadium, building a substantial early margin via touchdowns by Fainga'anuku and Taylor.

Subsequent to Ollie Lawrence's powerful finish, the fly-half's successive drop-goals ensured England entered the halftime break with renewed energy.

"The challenging thing in those moments is, when the scoreboard says 12-0, we must maintain to our guns and our convictions the optimal approach to perform is," Ford explained.

"We fought our way back into it and we understood were we to commence the second half well, with substitutes entering, we found ourselves in a favorable situation.

"Even with 15 minutes left, we ended up on our own line with a yellow card, thus we encountered obstacles there as well.

"I think that's what international rugby involves - which team can handle in those circumstances superiorly."

Both kicks happened within close succession as Ford who executed three crucial kicks in a successful match facing the Argentine team in the last global tournament, displayed his complete international experience.

Ford hit two drop-goals with Sale in a league contest played in challenging weather versus Bath - it is a skill he is well-practised in.

"These attempts is always in the plan," Ford continued.

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

Ford directed England excellently throughout the match the entire match, making smart decisions - for both attacking and defensive purposes and locating gaps in the opposition's territory.

His trademark 'spiral bomb' additionally troubled Beauden Barrett, who couldn't collect.

After beginning England's win versus the Wallabies during the autumn series, Ford passed on the fly-half position to the younger Smith during the Fiji match a week later.

But the biggest test in terms of difficulty occurred versus the multiple World Cup winners, and Ford reclaimed his spot.

The English team, presently maintaining ten consecutive victories, face Argentina on 23 November and it will be interesting to learn if Borthwick goes back with the alternative or persists with Ford.

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