Marcus Smith: Ford Not to Blame for England’s Loss

Marcus Smith stood up for his teammate George Ford after England’s close two-point loss to New Zealand on Saturday. Even though Ford missed important kicks that could have won the game, Smith believes it wasn’t all his fault. Smith was England’s top scorer with 17 points and helped set up their only try. He was substituted in the final quarter for Ford, who has 97 caps.

At the time of Smith’s exit, England held an eight-point lead. However, New Zealand staged a late comeback as Mark Tele’a scored a try after breaking through Ford’s tackle and Damian McKenzie added five points, putting the All Blacks ahead with just minutes remaining. Ford had two chances to regain the lead for England—a penalty that struck the post and a potential game-winning drop goal.

However, he missed both allowing New Zealand to hold on for a 24-22 victory at Allianz Stadium. Smith empathized with Ford’s missed chances, describing it as part of the challenges that kickers face. “Every kicker has experienced days like that,” Smith noted, commending Ford’s overall skill and dedication. “It’s nothing to do with him why we didn’t win the game—it’s a team effort.”

Smith himself had previously struggled in a July Test loss to New Zealand, underscoring the unpredictable nature of pressure situations. When Anton Lienert-Brown committed a late tackle error, England received another chance to score. Despite this, Ford’s penalty attempt hit the post, keeping the game out of reach.

Despite the outcome, Smith highlighted how drop-goals and other pressure kicks remain critical skills, but said, “It’s very different when you’re out there in front of 80,000 people and the All Blacks shouting, ‘Drop-goal!’” Looking ahead, Smith, who has now started four consecutive Tests amid injuries to Ford and the absence of Owen Farrell, remains optimistic.

Inspired by players like New Zealand’s Dan Carter, he urged patience and confidence in the squad’s growth. “International rugby is very different to the Premiership,” Marcus Smith reflected. “These tough experiences will only make us stronger in the long run.”