George Ford urges England to seize their chance against New Zealand

Join the Miguel Delaney team: Inside Football Join the Miguel Delaney Inside newsletter to get exclusive access and unparalleled insight. Football NewsletterJoin the Miguel Delaney inside Football newsletterGeorge Ford insists Maro Itoje’s England are determined to seize their place in the nation’s rugby history by ending the long wait for victory over New Zealand at Allianz Stadium.It is 13 years and five Tests since the All Blacks were last toppled at Twickenham with that Manu Tuilagi-inspired 38-21 rout still recalled with awe.England go into the 47th meeting between the rivals as marginal favourites with most bookmakers as a result of their nine-match winning run and the perception that New Zealand are vulnerable.And they will be stirred by a call to arms from veteran hooker Jamie George demanding they deliver only the ninth victory over the All Blacks in their 120-year rivalry.“It’s a long time ago, isn’t it? It makes me feel old!” Ford has beaten Fin Smith to the fly-half position in the main autumn event.“Let’s change that. There’s only been eight ever wins. It’s like, come on, let’s have a ninth now. One hundred per cent.“Jamie George mentioned something to the team this week – the last time England beat New Zealand at Twickenham was 2012. And people still go on about 2012. Manu Tuilagi and all those…“Jamie then flipped it and said this is the opportunity we have in front of us. Why can’t we – 2025 – be the next team that they talk about? It’s definitely part of my motivation.”Itoje, England’s captain and colossus during the recent victory over the All Blacks at the World Cup semi-finals, echoes the message to rise to the occasion.“We want to be the ninth English team to do it. And we are capable of doing it,” Itoje says.“That is the opportunity that is there for us. In life you don’t get many of these opportunities, so we want to go out there and take it.”Ford is looking for the hosts to play with conviction and courage.“You’ve got to go at a team like this in every area of the game. When we’ve got the ball, we’ve got to go at them,” He said.“And when they’ve got the ball, we’ve got to go at them. The kicking game, the set-piece, we’ve got to go at them.“That’s the mentality you need because the moment you sit off and become a bit passive is the moment that they could potentially get on top.“We want to throw ourselves into the next thing because when you play like that, you get the crowd behind you, you inspire each other to keep going and you inspire the bench when they come on.“And that’s how you’re going to win Tests against the best teams.”
2025-11-14 14:23:51