Ford's Masterclass Seals Historic England Win
Steve Borthwick has hailed George Ford as an 'outstanding leader' after England's impressive 33-18 victory over the All Blacks at Twickenham. The fly-half delivered a tactical masterclass, contributing 13 points including two crucial first-half drop goals that shifted momentum after New Zealand had taken an early 12-0 lead.
Redeeming Last Year's Heartbreak
Twelve months ago, Ford narrowly failed to clinch a home victory in this same fixture, but on Saturday he was the pivotal figure as England gained revenge with their first win over New Zealand in south-west London since 2012. "George is a brilliant player, an outstanding leader and an even better person," Borthwick said. "When he pulls on the England shirt he is just such a consistent performer."
The head coach emphasised Ford's decision-making under pressure, noting: "He made brilliant decisions and executed perfectly. I am pleased for him and all the players. They should enjoy themselves tonight and have a good night out."
Strategic Drop Goals Change Game
Ford revealed his two first-half drop goals were part of a deliberate strategy. "It was always part of the plan," he explained. "You want to come away with something when you get to that end of the pitch. Sometimes the drop goal is the way to go... it's important to get rewards for the work the forwards are doing."
England's assurance in the final quarter proved decisive as they pulled away to record their ninth win over New Zealand in the long history of the fixture. This marks England's 10th successive Test victory this year, building significant momentum for the team.
Itoje's Inspirational Leadership
Borthwick also highlighted Maro Itoje's motivational speech delivered on the morning of the match. "I heard him address the team this morning," Borthwick revealed. "He talked about when the team were 14 or 15-year-old boys, dreaming of playing for England and playing here against teams like New Zealand."
Itoje had asked his teammates to "play with that intent of a 14 or 15-year-old with a dream," and Borthwick believes the message resonated powerfully. "The boys took those dreams on to the pitch today and they were outstanding."
The England lock also explained their strategic response to the traditional haka. "As a group of leaders we came up with what you guys saw," Itoje said. "Our response was just to show ourselves, the team and the Allianz Stadium that we're ready for the challenge."
All Blacks Acknowledge Superior Opposition
New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson conceded his side had been beaten by the better team. "They finished better than us," he acknowledged. "We had some really good opportunities we didn't take. It is hard to win a grand slam and we definitely know how hard it is now."
All Blacks captain Scott Barrett added: "The grand slam was a goal we set a few weeks ago, but England pulled the rug from under us. It is hugely disappointing, but we will have to bounce back. You have got to take your hat off to England for their defence - it is a big part of their DNA."
Borthwick believes his team still has room for improvement, suggesting this victory represents another step in their development. "This is about trying to achieve special moments and special memories and today is one of them," he reflected. "Hopefully, there's a load of young future rugby players watching around the country who want to wear the white shirt and get great victories."
