Autumn Nations Series 2024: Marcus Smith downplays George Ford's role in England's narrow New Zealand loss at Twickenham

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Fly-half Marcus Smith has insisted England's narrow 24-22 defeat at the hands of the All Blacks on Saturday was "nothing to do with" two missed kicks by George Ford. Smith was replaced by Ford late on, with the substitute fly-half hitting the post with what could have been a match-winning kick, and sending a drop-goal just wide in the dying throes of their Autumn Nations Series opener.

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Fly-half Marcus Smith insists substitute George Ford was not to blame for England's two-point defeat to New Zealand on Saturday.

Smith was an integral part of the England side that built up an eight-point lead by the time of his substitution for Ford, who missed the chance to seal victory when he hit the post and clipped a last-gasp drop-goal wide.

New Zealand won 24-22 to condemn England to a fourth frustrating loss in five games, with Ford looking disconsolate at the final whistle, but Smith insisted he was not to blame for the defeat.

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"It's nothing to do with him why we didn't win the game," he said. "It's a team effort. Every kicker in the world has experienced that. It's part and parcel of the job.

"As kickers we always practise the drop-goal, but it's very different when you're out there in front of 80,000 people and the All Blacks shouting 'Drop-goal! Drop-goal!'"

New Zealand moved into the lead with three minutes left at Twickenham, but as Anton Lienert-Brown misjudged a tackle, Ford had the chance to put England back in front.

But he struck the post and could not convert an immediate drop-goal to seal the game after New Zealand fumbled the penalty, leaving the All Blacks victorious and England deflated at the start of their Autumn Nations Series campaign.

"It's an extremely tough kick - Fordy is a master of that drop-goal kick," Smith added. "We go through that scenario week-in, week-out.

"We practise it as kickers every single day, but sometimes it doesn't go for you. We're all human and people miss."

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England had been outplayed in the first half but Smith was an integral part in keeping the deficit to just two points before half-time and set up Immanuel Feyi-Waboso for a try early in the second half to put Steve Borthwick's men ahead.

The Harlequins fly-half scored 14 points before his 62nd-minute substitution, with fans left questioning why Ford was brought on to replace him.

Smith has had previous difficulties of his own as a kicker, struggling in another Test defeat by New Zealand, this time in July.

"I've learned so much off George. He's an unbelievable kicker, both off the tee and out of hand. It was one of those days," he added.

England will hope to put the succession of narrow defeats behind them when they face Australia on Saturday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, with further fixtures in November against South Africa and Japan.

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