Ford's Boot Ends England's All Blacks Hoodoo
Thirteen years of frustration were finally washed away at a rain-swept Twickenham as George Ford orchestrated a stunning comeback victory for England against the mighty New Zealand All Blacks. The last time England had triumphed over the Kiwis in London, Ford was a 20-year-old prospect at Leicester; this time, he was the veteran general delivering a tactical masterclass.
A First-Half Onslaught and Ford's Response
The match began with intense pressure from the visitors. England's early intensity, led by tackles from Sam Underhill and Freddie Steward that dislodged the ball, failed to translate into points. A faltering lineout proved costly, allowing Leicester Fainga'anuku to bulldoze over for the opening try. When Will Jordan scored a second after a clever Cam Roigard 50-22 kick, the All Blacks had raced into a two-score lead.
The momentum shifted decisively before half-time. After Ollie Lawrence powered through a weak tackle to score England's first try, it was Ford who seized control. With impeccable timing, the fly-half landed two opportunistic drop goals, a skill he famously showcased against Argentina in the World Cup, to narrow the deficit to a single point at the break.
England's Bench Seals Famous Victory
The second half saw England capitalise on their momentum. With New Zealand's Codie Taylor in the sin-bin, the hosts pressed their advantage. Sam Underhill crashed over to take the lead, before Ford pinned the All Blacks back with a superb 50-22 kick. From the resulting lineout, a perfectly executed strike move saw Fraser Dingwall cross the whitewash.
England's replacements, dubbed the 'Pom Squad', made a significant impact, forcing errors and winning a crucial scrum penalty. Although Will Jordan scored a late try to set up a nervy finale, Ford edged England further ahead with a 75th-minute penalty. The victory was sealed when Tom Roebuck gathered a fly-hack from Henry Pollock – who was in primary school the last time England won – to score and complete the demolition.
The final whistle confirmed a 10th consecutive victory for England and a famous day that will live long in the memory of the Twickenham faithful, exorcising the ghosts of thirteen years of heartbreak against the All Blacks.
