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Back in November 2024, national team playmaker George Ford appeared disappointed at Allianz Stadium.

Ford had been summoned off the sidelines to help the hosts secure a famous win against New Zealand, yet failed to convert a crucial penalty along with a drop-kick as England fell short by a narrow margin.

In the wake of those pivotal failures, Ford needed to put in effort to get another shot at delivering glory for the national side.

He played only 25 minutes during this year's Six Nations however a series of excellent displays, notably in the warm-weather tour of Argentina and the United States when the Smith players had departed for Lions team responsibilities, returned him solidly in the starting mix.

The 32-year-old fully validated the coach's trust by selecting him facing the Kiwis, but the Sale Sharks playmaker delivered a player-of-the-match performance to support England to a breakthrough triumph against the All Blacks at home for the first time since 2012.

The crucial point in the game Ford nailed back-to-back drop-goals immediately preceding halftime.

This enabled the English overcome a 12-0 deficit to reduce the margin to 12-11 when the half ended, prior to the coach's talented substitutes once more performed after halftime to assist the team to a decisive 33-19 triumph.

"You have to give credit to the experienced players on our squad, notably George," the manager commented. "During that phase where he hit those crucial kicks, he directed play just incredibly.

"Last year I believed Ford came on and played very effectively [against New Zealand].

"One kick struck the post and he had a difficult drop-goal, yet he performed excellently.

"He's an exceptional captain, an outstanding athlete and an even better person. We are fortunate to have him within our roster."

Drop-kicks 'consistently planned'

The All Blacks began rapidly in the stadium, racing into a twelve-point advantage via touchdowns by Leicester Fainga'anuku and Codie Taylor.

Subsequent to Ollie Lawrence's powerful finish, Ford's back-to-back three-pointers ensured England entered the changing rooms with renewed energy.

"The tough part during those periods is, when the scoreboard says a twelve-point deficit, we are able to adhere to our plan and our convictions the superior method to perform is," Ford explained.

"We worked our way back into it and we understood if we started the final period strongly, as reserves joined, we would be in an advantageous spot.

"Despite having 15 minutes left, we ended up near our try line with a yellow card, thus we encountered obstacles there as well.

"I think that's what international rugby involves - who manages best with those moments the best."

Both kicks happened within close succession as Ford who nailed three drop-kicks in a win against Argentina in the last global tournament, showed all his century of caps experience.

Ford converted two drop-kicks representing Sale during a Premiership match occurring during difficult conditions against Bath - it is a skill he has mastered thoroughly.

"It [the drop-goals] are consistently planned," Ford stated further.

"Borthwick represents an outstanding manager that he is always advising me, and rightly so as three points prove important throughout the match of competition."

Ford marshalled his side brilliantly throughout the match the complete contest, making smart decisions - for both attacking and defensive purposes and identifying openings behind the visitors' backfield.

His trademark tactical bomb further confused the opposing fullback, who couldn't collect.

Following his start in the national team's triumph against Australia on 1 November, Ford passed on the number 10 jersey to the younger Smith during the Fiji match a week later.

Yet the most significant examination on paper this autumn occurred versus the multiple World Cup winners, with Ford regaining his spot.

The English team, presently maintaining ten consecutive victories, play against Argentina this month and it will be interesting to learn if the manager opts with the alternative or persists with Ford.

Whichever decision is made, Ford demonstrated with two years remaining before the World Cup that ample opportunity of career ahead within him.