Ford's Drop-Goal Masterclass Inspires England to Famous Victory
In a spectacular display of tactical kicking, George Ford guided England to a memorable 33-19 triumph over New Zealand at a euphoric Twickenham Stadium. The fly-half delivered a man-of-the-match performance, landing two crucial drop-goals during the first half after the All Blacks had established an early 12-0 lead.
Building Momentum Beyond a Single Performance
While celebrating this significant achievement - England's first victory over the All Blacks at Twickenham since 2012 - Ford immediately emphasised the importance of consistency. "We don't want it to be a flash in the pan," stated the match-winner, who contributed 13 points to the scoreboard. "There's a good feeling around the place. The way we're preparing, we just wanted to make sure that we get our preparation right and we attack it."
This victory represents the tenth consecutive win for Steve Borthwick's squad and elevates England to third in the world rankings. The team could potentially climb to second position next weekend if they defeat Argentina and Wales manage an upset against the All Blacks.
A New Foundation for English Rugby
Head coach Steve Borthwick believes this performance demonstrates substantial potential for growth within his squad. "There's a huge amount of growth," Borthwick remarked. "If the players continue to strive to develop, remain ambitious with their dreams and then continue to train at the level they do, then I think there's a lot of growth. The guys just have utter belief now."
Hooker Jamie George acknowledged that while South Africa remain the world's top-ranked team, England must maintain focus on their immediate challenge against Argentina. The victory against New Zealand stands as England's finest achievement under Borthwick's leadership, surpassing previous narrow victories against Ireland and France during his tenure.
