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During November 2024, national team playmaker Ford looked disheartened during the match.

The replacement was brought on from the bench to support the hosts close out a memorable triumph facing the Kiwis, yet was unable to score a decisive kick plus a drop-goal attempt while his team lost in a close contest.

Following those costly misses, the player was required to strive to earn another opportunity to achieve success to the English team.

He played only 25 minutes during this year's Six Nations however a series of impressive performances, particularly on the summer matches against Argentina and the USA while Fin Smith and Marcus Smith had departed for Lions tour commitments, returned him solidly in the starting mix.

The veteran player fully validated Steve Borthwick's faith in starting him against the All Blacks, and the Sharks star produced a man-of-the-match display to support the home team to a breakthrough triumph over New Zealand in their own stadium since 2012.

The pivotal moment came when Ford converted back-to-back drop-goals immediately preceding halftime.

This assisted England recover from 12-0 down to narrow the gap to 12-11 at the break, before Borthwick's star-studded bench repeatedly excelled in the second half to support England to a comfortable 33-19 victory.

"You have to give credit to the veteran members on our squad, especially George," Borthwick told. "During that phase where he hit those crucial kicks, he managed the game absolutely brilliantly.

"One year earlier I believed Ford entered and performed exceptionally well [against New Zealand].

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

"He's an exceptional captain, a superb performer and an even better person. We are honored to feature him within our roster."

Drop-goals 'part of the strategy'

The All Blacks began rapidly at Allianz Stadium, building a 12-point lead via touchdowns by two key players.

Subsequent to Ollie Lawrence's impressive score, Ford's back-to-back drop-kicks ensured England returned to the locker room with the momentum.

"The tough part at those times occurs as the display indicates 12-0, we can stick to our strategy and our philosophy the superior method to compete is," Ford stated.

"We fought our way back into contention and we recognized if we started the latter half effectively, with substitutes entering, we were in a favorable situation.

"Even with 15 minutes left, we found ourselves defending our goal line with a yellow card, so we had challenges in that instance too.

"I believe this illustrates elite competition requires - who manages best with those moments superiorly."

The two attempts happened within a two-minute span while the number 10 who executed three crucial kicks during a victory facing the Argentine team in the last global tournament, displayed his complete century of caps experience.

Ford hit two drop-goals representing Sale during a Premiership match occurring during difficult conditions against Bath - this represents an ability he has extensively practiced.

"These attempts are consistently planned," Ford stated further.

"The coach is such an outstanding manager that he consistently in my ear about it, and appropriately because three points prove important at any stage of play."

Ford directed his team superbly around the field the entire match, kicking smartly - both in contestable situations and identifying openings in the opposition's territory.

His signature 'spiral bomb' additionally troubled the New Zealand player, who couldn't collect.

Having started England's win versus the Wallabies during the autumn series, Ford passed on the starting role to his replacement against Fiji seven days later.

Yet the most significant examination in terms of difficulty occurred versus the three-time world champions, and Ford reclaimed his spot.

England, currently enjoying an unbeaten streak of ten, play against Argentina on 23 November creating intrigue to discover if Borthwick goes back to Fin Smith or continues with Ford.

Regardless of the selection, Ford established ahead of the next tournament before the World Cup that significant amounts of play remaining in him.