🔗 Share this article

In November 2024, England fly-half Ford looked disheartened at Allianz Stadium.

Ford had been summoned from the bench to support England complete a memorable triumph facing the Kiwis, however missed a decisive kick and drop-goal while his team lost by two points.

After those expensive errors, Ford needed to put in effort to secure another chance at delivering glory to the English team.

He saw just 25 minutes of action in the recent Six Nations yet multiple excellent displays, especially during the summer tour versus Argentine and American teams when the Smith players were away on Lions team responsibilities, returned him solidly as a starting option.

At 32 years old not only repaid the coach's trust through his selection facing the Kiwis, plus the club standout produced a man-of-the-match display to assist the home team to their initial victory over New Zealand at home since 2012.

The decisive instant came when Ford nailed back-to-back drop-goals right before half-time.

It helped England recover from 12-0 down to narrow the gap to 12-11 at the break, ahead of the manager's skilled reserves repeatedly excelled after halftime to help his side to a comfortable 33-19 triumph.

"Recognition should be offered to the senior players in our team, particularly Ford," Borthwick told. "That period when he converted those drop-kicks, he controlled the match just incredibly.

"Twelve months ago I believed Ford substituted and competed exceptionally well [against New Zealand].

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

"He's an exceptional captain, a brilliant player and an even better person. We are privileged to include him on our team."

Drop-kicks 'consistently planned'

The All Blacks started quickly at Allianz Stadium, surging to a 12-point lead via touchdowns by two key players.

Subsequent to Ollie Lawrence's impressive score, Ford's back-to-back three-pointers ensured England entered the halftime break with psychological advantage.

"The challenging thing during those periods is, when the scoreboard says a twelve-point deficit, we must maintain to our guns and our philosophy the superior method to play the game is," Ford said.

"We got ourselves back into the game and we understood should we begin the latter half effectively, with the bench coming on, we were in a favorable situation.

"Despite having fifteen minutes to go, we ended up defending our goal line following a card, so we had challenges there as well.

"In my opinion that represents elite competition requires - who can deal during those situations the best."

The two attempts came within close succession as Ford who executed three drop-goals in a successful match versus Argentina during the 2023 World Cup, displayed his complete century of caps experience.

Ford converted two three-pointers for Sale during a Premiership match occurring during tough circumstances against Bath - it is a skill he is well-practised in.

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

"The coach is such an outstanding manager since he continually in my ear about it, and rightly so as three points are crucial throughout the match of the game."

Ford directed his side brilliantly around the field the complete contest, executing intelligent kicks - both in contestable situations and locating gaps behind the visitors' backfield.

His trademark 'spiral bomb' additionally troubled the New Zealand player, who failed to regather.

Following his start in England's win versus the Wallabies during the autumn series, Ford passed on the starting role to the younger Smith against Fiji the following week.

But the biggest test theoretically this season came against the experienced New Zealand team, so Ford returned to his spot.

England, now on a run of ten consecutive victories, play against Argentina in late November and curiosity remains to determine if Borthwick goes back for the younger Smith or persists with Ford.

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