Ford Inspires England to Famous Victory Over All Blacks
In a breathtaking display of tactical brilliance, George Ford orchestrated England's stunning 33-19 victory over New Zealand in the Autumn Nations Series at a euphoric Twickenham Stadium. The fly-half produced a masterclass that included two vital drop goals and a sublime 50:22 kick, steering his side to a memorable triumph against the formidable All Blacks.
Player Ratings: England's Heroes Emerge
George Ford earned a perfect 10/10 rating for his commanding performance, causing constant problems for the New Zealand defence with his spiral bombs and crisp decision-making. The irrepressible fly-half formed a formidable half-back partnership with Alex Mitchell, whose controlled kicking game kept England on the front foot throughout the contest.
England's backline shone brightly, with Tom Roebuck deserving his try after demonstrating exceptional aerial skills and making a big early tackle on Leicester Fainga'anuku. The centre partnership of Ollie Lawrence and Fraser Dingwall flourished, both scoring 8/10 ratings after contributing crucial tries and defensive interventions.
Ben Earl was having a blinder until his yellow card intervention, making countless carries and leading the counter-rucking charge in another all-action display. Sam Underhill continued his reputation for appearing in big games, smashing into Peter Lakai early on and eventually powering over from close range for a crucial score.
All Blacks Struggle to Find Rhythm
New Zealand faced significant challenges throughout the match, with several key players failing to reach their usual standards. Ardie Savea was unusually quiet by his lofty standards, while Leroy Carter endured a particularly torrid time - being bumped too easily by Lawrence for England's opening try and coughing up an ugly knock-on.
Josh Lord emerged as a bright spot for the visitors, showing no signs of rustiness despite his late call-up to replace the ill Fabian Holland. The lock stole an early lineout and flew into his tackles with impressive intensity, earning an 8/10 rating in a losing cause.
The All Blacks will rue missed opportunities, particularly Will Jordan's decision not to pass to Carter when a try seemed certain, though the prolific winger eventually crossed later in the match. Codie Taylor's yellow card at the start of the second half proved costly as England capitalized on their numerical advantage.
This victory marks England's 10th consecutive win and provides significant momentum as they continue to develop under Steve Borthwick's leadership. The performance contained no weak links and demonstrated the growing depth and quality within the English squad, particularly in the blossoming centre partnership between Lawrence and Dingwall.
