On Saturday, George Ford faced challenges during England’s match against New Zealand. Despite his impressive performance in previous games, including three successful drop-goals against Argentina at the World Cup last year, he struggled to find his rhythm.
England narrowly lost to New Zealand with a score of 24-22, and while Ford’s missed kicks were pivotal, fellow fly-half Marcus Smith emphasized that it was not solely Ford’s fault. Smith, who contributed 17 points and assisted in England’s only try, noted:
“Sometimes that’s the life of a kicker; we’ve all experienced that. It’s part and parcel of the job.”
At the time Smith left the field, England held an eight-point lead. However, a crucial try from wing Mark Tele’a and five points from replacement Damian McKenzie turned the tide in favor of the All Blacks.
Ford had several chances to reclaim the match for England but was unable to convert key kicks. After McKenzie’s conversion following Tele’a’s try, a mis-timed tackle from Anton Lienert-Brown gave England another opportunity. Unfortunately, Ford’s penalty hit the post and his attempt at a last-minute drop-goal fell short.
Smith reflected on the pressure kickers face during such critical moments:
“It’s an extremely tough kick… sometimes it doesn’t go for you. We’re all human, and people miss.”
This match marked a significant moment for Smith as it was his first time starting four consecutive Tests at fly-half since 2022. With injuries to Ford and former captain Owen Farrell, Smith remains optimistic about future performances despite recent narrow defeats against New Zealand.
He drew inspiration from renowned fly-half Dan Carter, who shone in his later years:
“Keep the faith… these experiences will tighten us as a group.”
Smith believes that these challenging moments will ultimately benefit the team as they prepare for upcoming competitions.
Ford’s Missed Kicks in England’s Narrow Defeat to New Zealand On Saturday, England’s fly-half George Ford struggled to replicate the form that saw him score three successful drop-goals against Argentina in last year’s World Cup.
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