George Ford has issued a powerful call to his England teammates, demanding that their stunning 33-19 victory over New Zealand is not a fleeting moment of glory but the foundation for a new era of success. The fly-half's virtuoso performance, which included two crucial first-half drop goals, steered England to a historic win at a euphoric Twickenham.
A Statement Victory at Twickenham
Under the guidance of head coach Steve Borthwick, England secured their 10th consecutive victory and a first win against the All Blacks at their home fortress since 2012. The result was far from certain early on, as New Zealand stormed into a 12-0 lead, but Ford’s composure and tactical kicking, which yielded 13 personal points, turned the tide in a man-of-the-match display.
This commanding performance marks the finest achievement of Borthwick's tenure, surpassing previous narrow wins against rugby powerhouses like Ireland and France. The victory also propelled England to third in the world rankings, with a chance to climb to second if results go their way next weekend.
Learning from the Ghosts of Triumphs Past
Despite the elation, a note of caution underpins the celebrations. Ford was quick to reference England’s history of failing to build on significant wins. The famous 2019 World Cup semi-final victory over the All Blacks under Eddie Jones was followed by a comprehensive defeat to South Africa in the final.
Similarly, the optimism from the 2012 win was short-lived, shattered by a heavy defeat to Wales in the subsequent Six Nations. "We don’t want it to be a flash in the pan," Ford stated emphatically. "We just wanted to make sure that we get our preparation right... That’s probably where we’re at as a team at the minute. The way we’re preparing, there’s a good feeling around the place."
A Platform for Growth and Future Challenges
Echoing his player's sentiment, Steve Borthwick believes his squad is only just beginning to tap into its potential. "There’s a huge amount of growth," Borthwick said. "If the players continue to strive to develop... then I think there’s a lot of growth. The guys just have utter belief now. If we go down on the scoreboard, I have utter belief in the senior guys that their team becomes composed, resilient and find a way through it."
While the Springboks remain the undisputed benchmark as world number one, a rematch is not on the immediate horizon. Hooker Jamie George acknowledged the challenge ahead, shifting focus to the next task. "South Africa are No 1 in the world still, they’re a world-class team," George said. "We obviously always want to play them... We’ll focus on Argentina."
The message from the England camp is clear: the victory over the All Blacks is a monumental step, but the real work to ensure it becomes a defining chapter, rather than a glorious footnote, starts now.
