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

He was called upon from the bench to support the hosts secure a famous win against New Zealand, but instead was unable to score a decisive kick plus a drop-goal attempt as his side lost by a narrow margin.

In the wake of those pivotal failures, the player was required to strive to get another shot to achieve success to the English team.

His playing time was limited to 25 minutes in the recent Six Nations however a series of strong showings, especially during the summer matches versus Argentine and American teams as Fin Smith and Marcus Smith had departed for Lions tour commitments, reestablished him strongly among starting candidates.

The veteran player fully validated Steve Borthwick's faith through his selection against the All Blacks, but the Sale Sharks playmaker delivered a player-of-the-match performance to help the hosts to a breakthrough triumph versus the Kiwis on home soil ending a drought dating to 2012.

The crucial point occurred as Ford converted two drop-goals in succession right before half-time.

This assisted England 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 in the second half to assist the team to a comfortable 33-19 victory.

"Recognition should be offered to the experienced players on our squad, especially George," the coach stated. "During that phase when he converted those drop-goals, he managed the game just incredibly.

"Last year I thought George entered and performed really well [against New Zealand].

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

"He's an exceptional captain, an outstanding athlete plus a better human being. We are honored to feature him in our squad."

Drop-goals 'always in the plan'

The Kiwis began rapidly in the stadium, building a 12-point lead through scores from Leicester Fainga'anuku and Codie Taylor.

Following Ollie Lawrence's strong try, Ford's back-to-back drop-kicks ensured England bounced into the locker room with psychological advantage.

"The challenging thing at those times is, when the scoreboard says a twelve-point deficit, we can stick to our plan and what we believe the optimal approach to perform is," Ford said.

"We worked our way back into it and we understood should we begin the final period strongly, with substitutes entering, we were in a favorable situation.

"Even with fifteen minutes to go, we found ourselves near our try line following a card, meaning we faced difficulties in that instance too.

"In my opinion that represents international rugby involves - who manages best with those moments superiorly."

Each effort happened within two minutes of each other as the fly-half who nailed three drop-goals in a successful match against Argentina at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, displayed his complete 104-cap experience.

Ford converted two three-pointers with Sale during a Premiership match conducted in tough circumstances against Bath - this represents an ability he has mastered thoroughly.

"It [the drop-goals] is always in the plan," Ford added.

"Borthwick represents an incredible coach that he is always reminding me, and rightly so because three points is valuable at any stage of competition."

Ford guided his team superbly around the field all game, kicking smartly - both to compete and in finding space against the defensive line.

His characteristic high spiral kick also bamboozled the opposing fullback, who failed to regather.

Following his start in the English victory versus the Wallabies in early November, Ford relinquished the fly-half position to Fin Smith against Fiji seven days later.

However the greatest challenge on paper this autumn occurred versus the multiple World Cup winners, so Ford returned to his position.

England, now on a run of ten consecutive victories, meet Argentina in late November and it will be interesting to determine whether the coach returns for the younger Smith or continues with Ford.

Regardless of the selection, Ford established with two years remaining before the World Cup that there is plenty of career ahead for him.