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Back in November 2024, national team playmaker George Ford looked disheartened during the match.

Ford had been summoned as a substitute to assist the home side secure a famous win facing the Kiwis, however missed a crucial penalty and drop-goal while his team fell short by a narrow margin.

Following those costly misses, the player was required to strive to earn another opportunity at delivering glory to the English team.

He saw just 25 minutes of action during this year's Six Nations however a series of impressive performances, notably in the summer tour against Argentina and the USA when the Smith players had departed for Lions team responsibilities, put him firmly back as a starting option.

At 32 years old did more than justify the manager's confidence in starting him facing the Kiwis, and the Sharks star produced a man-of-the-match display to support the hosts to a breakthrough triumph over New Zealand in their own stadium ending a drought dating to 2012.

The decisive instant came when Ford nailed two drop-goals in succession just before the break.

This enabled the English overcome a 12-0 deficit to narrow the gap to 12-11 at the break, before Borthwick's star-studded bench again delivered after halftime to assist the team to a decisive 33-19 victory.

"Credit must be given to the senior players within our side, notably George," Borthwick told. "During that phase when he converted those crucial kicks, he directed play absolutely brilliantly.

"One year earlier In my view George came on and played really well [against New Zealand].

"One kick struck the post and he tried a pressured drop-kick, but he played really well.

"He is a phenomenal leader, a superb performer and an even finer individual. We are fortunate to feature him within our roster."

Drop-kicks 'consistently planned'

The Kiwis commenced strongly in the stadium, racing into a twelve-point advantage via touchdowns by two key players.

Following Ollie Lawrence's powerful finish, the fly-half's successive drop-kicks ensured England bounced into the halftime break with renewed energy.

"The difficult aspect during those periods occurs as the display indicates twelve to zero, we must maintain to our guns and our convictions the superior method to perform is," Ford explained.

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

"Despite having fifteen minutes to go, we were positioned on our own line with a yellow card, so we had challenges there as well.

"In my opinion that represents Test rugby is - who manages best with those moments the best."

The two attempts came within a two-minute span while the number 10 who executed three drop-kicks in a successful match facing the Argentine team during the 2023 World Cup, demonstrated his full century of caps experience.

Ford hit two drop-kicks with Sale in a Prem game conducted in challenging weather at Bath - this demonstrates a talent he has mastered thoroughly.

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

"Steve is such an outstanding manager since he continually reminding me, and rightly so because three points is valuable during any phase of competition."

Ford marshalled his side brilliantly throughout the match the complete contest, executing intelligent kicks - both in contestable situations and identifying openings behind the visitors' backfield.

His signature 'spiral bomb' further confused the opposing fullback, who failed to regather.

After beginning England's win over Australia during the autumn series, Ford passed on the starting role to his replacement against Fiji the following week.

Yet the most significant examination in terms of difficulty was presented by the three-time world champions, with Ford regaining his starting role.

The national side, now on a run of an unbeaten streak of ten, meet Argentina this month and curiosity remains to learn whether the coach returns with the alternative or continues with Ford.

Whatever choice occurs, Ford proved two years away from a World Cup that ample opportunity of play remaining in him.