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

The replacement was brought on as a substitute to assist the hosts close out an historic victory facing the Kiwis, but instead failed to convert a decisive kick plus a drop-goal attempt as his side fell short by a narrow margin.

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

He played only 25 minutes throughout the Six Nations tournament but a string of impressive performances, notably in the warm-weather tour against Argentina and the USA as Fin Smith and Marcus Smith were away on British and Irish Lions duty, reestablished him strongly in the starting mix.

The veteran player not only repaid Steve Borthwick's faith by selecting him versus New Zealand, and the Sharks star achieved a best-player showing to assist the home team to a first win against the All Blacks on home soil for the first time since 2012.

The pivotal moment came when Ford converted two drop-goals in succession right before half-time.

This enabled the English overcome a 12-0 deficit to reduce the margin to 12-11 at the break, ahead of the manager's skilled reserves again delivered in the second half to support England to a comfortable 33-19 triumph.

"You have to give credit to the veteran members in our team, especially George," Borthwick told. "In that moment when he converted those drop-goals, he managed the game absolutely brilliantly.

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

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

"He's a tremendous guide, a brilliant player and an even finer individual. We are fortunate to feature him in our squad."

Drop-kicks 'consistently planned'

The All Blacks began rapidly in the stadium, building a substantial early margin through scores from two key players.

After Lawrence's strong try, Ford's back-to-back drop-kicks ensured England bounced into the halftime break with the momentum.

"The challenging thing in those moments comes when the board shows 12-0, we must maintain to our guns and our philosophy the best way to compete is," Ford said.

"We worked our way back into the game and we recognized should we begin the final period strongly, with substitutes entering, we were in an advantageous spot.

"Although facing a quarter-hour remaining, we were positioned defending our goal line with a yellow card, thus we encountered obstacles in that instance too.

"I believe this illustrates Test rugby is - which team can handle during those situations superiorly."

Each effort happened within a two-minute span as Ford who executed three drop-goals in a win facing the Argentine team at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, showed all his century of caps experience.

Ford converted two drop-goals with Sale in a league contest conducted in difficult conditions against Bath - this represents an ability he has extensively practiced.

"The drop-kicks are consistently planned," Ford added.

"The coach is such an outstanding manager that he consistently in my ear about it, and rightly so as three points prove important throughout the match of the game."

Ford guided his team superbly around the field the complete contest, kicking smartly - both in contestable situations and in finding space behind the visitors' backfield.

His trademark 'spiral bomb' additionally troubled Beauden Barrett, who couldn't collect.

Following his start in England's win versus the Wallabies on 1 November, Ford relinquished the fly-half position to Fin Smith against Fiji the following week.

But the biggest test theoretically this season came against the three-time world champions, so Ford returned to his starting role.

England, presently maintaining ten consecutive victories, meet Argentina on 23 November and it will be interesting to determine whether the coach returns with the alternative or continues with Ford.

Whichever decision is made, Ford established two years away from a World Cup that ample opportunity of rugby left in him.