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Back in November 2024, national team playmaker George Ford looked disheartened on the Allianz Stadium turf.

Ford had been summoned as a substitute to help the home side secure a memorable triumph against New Zealand, but instead missed a decisive kick plus a drop-goal attempt while his team lost in a close contest.

After those expensive errors, Ford needed to put in effort to earn another opportunity to achieve success to the English team.

He played only 25 minutes throughout the Six Nations tournament yet multiple strong showings, notably in the summer matches versus Argentine and American teams when the Smith players were away on Lions tour commitments, returned him solidly among starting candidates.

The veteran player not only repaid the coach's trust in starting him facing the Kiwis, plus the club standout achieved a best-player showing to help England to a breakthrough triumph versus the Kiwis on home soil ending a drought dating to 2012.

The decisive instant in the game Ford nailed back-to-back drop-goals immediately preceding halftime.

This assisted England overcome a 12-0 deficit to trail 12-11 at the break, before Borthwick's star-studded bench once more performed after halftime to assist the team to a decisive 33-19 triumph.

"Recognition should be offered to the veteran members within our side, notably George," the coach stated. "During that phase where he hit those crucial kicks, he managed the game absolutely brilliantly.

"Last year I believed Ford came on and played really well [versus the All Blacks].

"A kick hit the post and he tried a difficult drop-goal, but he played really well.

"He is a phenomenal leader, a brilliant player plus a better human being. We are fortunate to include him on our team."

Drop-goals 'part of the strategy'

New Zealand began rapidly during the match, racing into a 12-point lead with tries by two key players.

After Lawrence's strong try, Ford's back-to-back three-pointers resulted in the home side entered the locker room with renewed energy.

"The tough part at those times occurs as the display indicates a twelve-point deficit, we must maintain to our plan and what we believe the optimal approach to compete is," Ford said.

"We got ourselves back into it and we knew if we started the final period strongly, as reserves joined, we would be in an advantageous spot.

"Even with fifteen minutes to go, we were positioned defending our goal line after a penalty, so we had challenges during that phase also.

"In my opinion that represents elite competition requires - who manages best with those moments the best."

Each effort happened within two minutes of each other while the number 10 who nailed three drop-goals in a win facing the Argentine team at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, demonstrated his full century of caps experience.

Ford successfully executed two drop-kicks representing Sale during a Premiership match played in difficult conditions at Bath - this represents an ability he has extensively practiced.

"It [the drop-goals] form part of our strategy," Ford continued.

"Borthwick represents a phenomenal leader that he consistently advising me, and rightly so since three points is valuable during any phase of play."

Ford marshalled his team superbly across the pitch the complete contest, kicking smartly - both to compete and in finding space behind the visitors' backfield.

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

Following his start in England's win against Australia in early November, Ford passed on the fly-half position to Fin Smith against Fiji a week later.

But the biggest test in terms of difficulty was presented by the experienced New Zealand team, and Ford reclaimed his position.

The national side, now on a run of an unbeaten streak of ten, play against Argentina this month and it will be interesting to learn whether the coach returns to Fin Smith or persists with Ford.

Regardless of the selection, Ford demonstrated two years away from a World Cup that significant amounts of rugby left for him.