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Back in November 2024, national team playmaker George Ford looked disheartened at Allianz Stadium.

He was called upon from the bench to assist the home side secure an historic victory versus the All Blacks, yet missed a late penalty and drop-goal while his team were beaten by two points.

After those expensive errors, Ford had to work hard to secure another chance to achieve success to the English team.

His playing time was limited to 25 minutes throughout the Six Nations tournament but a string of impressive performances, particularly on the warm-weather tour of Argentina and the United States while Fin Smith and Marcus Smith were absent for Lions tour commitments, returned him solidly in the starting mix.

The veteran player not only repaid the manager's confidence in starting him facing the Kiwis, and the Sharks star achieved a best-player showing to assist the hosts to their initial victory versus the Kiwis on home soil since 2012.

The crucial point occurred as Ford converted two drop-goals in succession just before the break.

It helped England overcome a 12-0 deficit to narrow the gap to 12-11 when the half ended, before Borthwick's star-studded bench once more performed after halftime to support England to a convincing 33-19 win.

"You have to give credit to the veteran members within our side, especially George," the manager commented. "During that phase when he converted those drop-goals, he directed play absolutely brilliantly.

"One year earlier I believed Ford came on and played exceptionally well [versus the All Blacks].

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

"He is a phenomenal leader, a superb performer and an even better person. We are fortunate to feature him on our team."

Drop-goals 'always in the plan'

The All Blacks started quickly during the match, racing into a substantial early margin via touchdowns by Leicester Fainga'anuku and Codie Taylor.

After Lawrence's strong try, the fly-half's successive three-pointers resulted in the home side returned to the locker room with psychological advantage.

"The tough part during those periods is, when the scoreboard says a twelve-point deficit, we must maintain to our plan and our philosophy the best way to compete is," Ford explained.

"We got ourselves back into contention and we knew were we to commence the second half well, with substitutes entering, we would be in a favorable situation.

"Although facing fifteen minutes to go, we were positioned defending our goal line following a card, so we had challenges there as well.

"I believe this illustrates Test rugby is - who manages best with those moments superiorly."

The two attempts occurred within close succession while the number 10 who nailed three drop-kicks in a successful match facing the Argentine team at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, demonstrated his full international experience.

Ford converted two drop-goals for Sale in a Prem game conducted in challenging weather against Bath - this demonstrates a talent he is well-practised in.

"The drop-kicks form part of our strategy," Ford continued.

"Borthwick represents a phenomenal leader since he continually reminding me, and correctly so since three points is valuable at any stage of competition."

Ford guided his team superbly around the field the entire match, executing intelligent kicks - both to compete and identifying openings in the opposition's territory.

His signature high spiral kick also bamboozled Beauden Barrett, who failed to regather.

Having started the English victory versus the Wallabies during the autumn series, Ford passed on the number 10 jersey to the younger Smith during the Fiji match seven days later.

However the greatest challenge on paper this autumn came against the multiple World Cup winners, so Ford returned to his spot.

The national side, now on a run of an unbeaten streak of ten, play against Argentina on 23 November and it will be interesting to discover if the manager opts with the alternative or continues with Ford.

Regardless of the selection, Ford established with two years remaining before the World Cup that significant amounts of career ahead in him.